COACHES from Burnley FC Football in the Community have been to Germany to pass on soccer skills to the children of soldiers serving in Europe.

The four coaches, Mark Smedley, Darren Wright, Chris Willan and Tom Howarth, flew back yesterday.

The previous week the under 12s team from the Turf Moor centre of excellence also visited Germany to play three matches against European opposition and scored a hat-trick of wins.

Burnley's involvement with the armed forces overseas began a number of years ago through Joe Walne, who had been a police officer in the RAF.

He became a coach for football in the community and through him the first trip was arranged to Cyprus.

Recent trips to service camps abroad have been organised by assistant community officer Nick Harrison.

This week, the four Burnley coaches spent time in four service camps in Germany.

Mark said: "We have 78 youngsters taking part in the course this week from 10am to 2pm each day.

"Everyone has enjoyed it and we have already been talking about possibly going to Holland and Belgium next year as well as returning to Germany.

"A senior officer here rang the club yesterday to say how well everything had gone."