Schoolchildren to put football skills to the test

1:19pm Wednesday 8th October 2008

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HUNDREDS of school children across south Wiltshire will soon be putting their Wayne Rooney skills to the test.

The Salisbury District Primary Schools' Football Festivals take place on October 20 at St Edmund's Girls School and at Trafalgar School at Downton on the following day.

More than 30 teams from local primary schools will be hoping to score success over the two afternoons.

Schools taking part are Bemerton St John, Wilton and Barford, Broadchalke, St Mark's, Dinton, Pembroke Park, Sarum St Paul's, Idmiston, St Martin's, Gomeldon, Woodlands, St Osmund's, Winterslow, Great Wishford, Highbury, Coombe Bissett, Britford, Downton, Nomansland, Harnham Junior, Whiteparish All Saints, Woodford Valley, Landford, Morgan's Vale and Alderbury.

It's one of the biggest sporting festivals held in the district for school children and has been organised jointly by Salisbury District Council and the Salisbury School Sports Partnership, with support from the Wiltshire FA and Salisbury City Football in the Community.

Salisbury District Council's sports and community officer, Karlene Jammeh said: "This festival is a culmination of a football project which has enabled some of the schools to receive quality coaching over a number of weeks. The coaching sessions have not only benefited the children but also the teachers, who have had the opportunity to learn new teaching skills.

"Both festivals mark the end of this coaching and now the boys and girls can demonstrate their new skills.

"It promises to be an exciting event for all concerned and the first time that many of them will have participated in such a large event."