THE Leigh RMI Football in the Community scheme is progressing under full steam.

The club's four FA qualified coaches have been working in local schools for the past two months passing on the benefits of their expertise to schoolchildren and working alongside teachers.

This week the Two Porches School at Atherton became the latest beneficiary of the project.

Deputy Head Colin Myers, a player himself with Horwich RMI in the Lancashire Amateur League Division One, is full of praise for the Hilton Park scheme. "To have qualified people coming in to work alongside us at the school is obviously excellent," he enthuses. "It is a tremendous initiative.

"Obviously the main aim is take soccer into the community but with us that is not the main criteria. Our aim is for our children to experience football and gain enjoyment from it. We have had two coaches in with us this week, Tony Hogan and Steve Eckersley, and although they hadn't worked with pupils with our particular needs before you could see they both thoroughly enjoyed the sessions.

"The children came in very hot and sweaty and they had had a great time. That is what it is all about. To see coaches, teachers and children enjoy it so thoroughly and gain so much benefit from it is very rewarding indeed. We are absolutely delighted with it."