PROVIDING football for youngsters in Longridge and Shaw Heath at ‘zero cost’ has seen Knutsford Football Club’s chairman presented with a Town Council Civic Award.

Jimmy Evans was recognised for his work implementing a youth development programme in the area.

The aim of the programme is to deliver a positive experience for the youngsters in the Longridge and Shaw Heath zones and encourage players of all abilities to play football.

The scheme has officially been running for 18 months, despite originally being implemented three years ago.

It has has seen more than 70 youngsters get involved with at least 30 regularly attending the Tuesday evening sessions.

And Reds’ chairman is delighted at its success.

“Our ethic is simple; football with zero costs to the kids,” said Evans.

“They love it. To be members of the town’s football club with such a history and tradition, it looks after them.”

Evans believes Knutsford FC have a duty to the town’s youngsters.

“All they want to do is the same as people in my generation wanted to do and that is to be outside playing football,” he said.

“Kids between six and 16 are restricted because of the pay to play at most football centres and in our eyes that isn’t right.

“As the town’s football club we have a duty to look after them the best we can.”

In fact, Evans’ project has been so successful a team of under 16s, in partnership with Knutsford Academy, will be entering the Mid Cheshire Youth League next season.

It has also attracted local partnerships with Community Spirit, Community Spirit Sports and Recreation, Knutsford Multi Academy Trust, the Studio School and Manchester Metropolitan University.

“It’s also about education and application, behaviours and social skills for all abilities,” added Evans, who says the award came as a shock.

“Nigel Deeley, a legend of the club, is at Manchester Metropolitan University in Crewe and helps run it with the sports science department.

“Cheshire East sponsored us for some nine-a-side goal posts and Community Spirit look after the kids.

“The under 16s will also get to play competitively in a league next season.”

And some of the youngsters have caught Evans’ eye.

“There are some great talents, particularly with the younger group,” he continued.

“There are about three or four at 11, 12 and 13 who look to be stars of the future but have not had a great deal of formal football education – some extremely raw talents who are the future.

“It’s nice for the club, continuing the development with local kids which we have been doing for more than 125 years.

“Our youngest – seven-year-old Liam Cash – his grandfather played for the club in the 1940s and his grandfather, Thomas Cash, played for Knutsford FC when it first appeared in the 1890s!”