Seeking stars of the future

When you're doing the dishes and glance at Junior playing in the backyard, do you see a Ryan Nelsen? Or a Winston Reid?

Wanganui junior football hopes to give many youngsters a chance to take their first steps on the field to see if they take to the game, as First Kicks football begins tomorrow morning.

In-tune with the start of the junior football season, First Kicks is an introduction to the sport, organised through the Wanganui Football Charitable Trust.

Over 100 children aged from 4 to 6, along with a handful of precocious 3-year-olds, are expected to take part.

Junior co-ordinator Jason King said there will be three skills stations which focus on one part of playing football in a fun game, with the children rotating every few minutes.

"Every little station is designed to be a fun game, but it introduces the skills required at the same time," he said.

Parents can also take part in the games.

King and Russell Eades will run the sessions, and have secured local sponsorship to keep the cost down to a $5 entry fee, from which the kids will get a playing shirt to keep.

King said it could have been up to $50 otherwise, whereas this subsidised figure meant parents could get their children to try the game without putting pressure on them to justify the expenses.

First Kick will be held at Wembley Park from 10.30am-11.30am every Saturday for 16 weeks, with breaks for the school holidays.