MORE children are getting the opportunity to play football in Herefordshire and fall in love with the game as junior clubs continue to thrive.

With the new football season getting underway boys and girls across the county are lacing up their boots and competing on a weekly basis.

Hundreds of youngsters descended on Ross-on-Wye Football Club last weekend as McDonalds hosted one of its Community Football Days which saw a range of inflatable challenges for youngsters to test their skills.

The day was part of McDonald’s aim to encourage thousands of kids of all abilities to get involved with the game.

Former Welsh professional football Dean Saunders met the children and passed on some advice to the budding football stars of the future.

Ross-on-Wye FC currently has 28 football teams including 15 boys and 10 girls sides aged from six upwards to adults.

Their girls section is one of the must successful in the county with their side being crowned National Futsal champions for their age range last year. Many of their girls have been scouted to play for the academy sides of professional football teams including Birmingham and Bristol Ladies.

Last weekend the Ross-on-Wye Juniors under-12 girls side were challenged to a match by Welsh side Treowen on the start of an annual Anglo-Welsh Cup which was played alongside the Community Football Day.

Ross won the match 12-0.

However, Paul Flitney, head of the girls section, said that the club is not just about results on the pitch but giving everybody a chance to play football.

"They wanted to play us and test themselves," said Flitney.

"Our big thing as a club first of all is to give every child who wants to play football a chance to play football and make friends.

"It's great when you're walking around town on a non-match day and there are children with their Ross shirts on as they feel part of the club.

"We would rather have a hundred happy footballers than two success stories although many of our girls are playing at academies now.

"We are also pushing our adult sections so that the boys and girls can hopefully go on to play for them.

"We are also starting to work with disability local charities who are using our pitches to play a match and are trying to establish a disability team."