The next generation of footballers in Monmouthshire are donning their studs and taking to the field thanks to the launch of The Waitrose Monmouth Town Football Academy.

The joint venture between Monmouth Comprehensive School and the Welsh Assembly’s 5x60 programme – a Sports Council for Wales managed scheme which aims to get secondary school pupils in Wales more active, more often – has been kicked off in a bid to increase the number of youngsters in the area participating in football and also to improve the quality of training and coaching on offer.

The academy took on its first recruits in September and has been working closely with Monmouth Town FC to provide its budding Beckhams with specialist coaching to help raise their game.

Adrian Sully, 5x60 Officer at Monmouth Comprehensive School, explains:

"This football academy is the first of many similar projects I aim to establish at the school. Since its inception in September, numbers have continued to grow and members are benefitting from an increased number of training sessions and professional help from staff at Monmouth Town FC, who are helping them to reach their full potential.

"The Sports Council for Wales provided us with a grant of £2,000 to put towards the establishment of the academy, which is now running out of the school’s facilities and attended by our 5x60 participants twice a week. Links between ourselves and Monmouth Town FC have proved vital in the success of the project, not only do they provide us with their expertise, they also donate the use of their equipment – we hope in time that they will benefit from the academy and become the exit route for our budding young footballers."

Two training sessions a week are held for boys aged 11-16, with a girls only training session taking place on a Wednesday night.

5x60 provides pupils with a mixed bag of opportunities and since the launch of the £7.6million scheme in October 2006 has transformed the playing fields and sports halls of 98% of the secondary schools across the country into hubs of bustling activity.

Chair of the Sports Council for Wales, Philip Carling, explains:

"The underlying goal is to encourage those who do not take part in sport to get active. When pupils are reluctant to take part, 5x60 Officers are on hand to listen to concerns and to help overcome any hurdles.

"Activities are innovative and have been enthusiastically received by the young people themselves. This is particularly pleasing as the long term objective is to encourage them to continue to take part in physical activity as adults. By the end of this financial year, the programme will embrace all secondary schools in Wales."