YOUNG strikers have set themselves a new goal after taking part in an inspirational coaching session.
Members of the Newcastle United Foundation staged a week-long training camp for budding players at Bede Academy in Blyth.
Almost 50 players aged five to 11 took part in the day-long sessions learning the secrets of the game, including turning, passing, dribbling and shooting.
Older children also took part in a workshop designed to hone their skills as strikers in an initiative aiming to discover the next generation of North-East footballing talent.
Foundation coaches Liam Atkin and Ben Walker-Carr were delighted with the effort put into the session, which attracted hopefuls from across the region and is part of the club's talent identification and development scheme.
Atkin said: “We have had real characters at the4 session and it is amazing to see the potential even at this young age.
“The summer training sessions complement the workshops we stage at schools, including Bede Academy, throughout the year, which have increased rapidly in popularity.
“The children have certainly enjoyed themselves – and gone home tired!”
Students vie for a host of top prizes including tickets to Newcastle United home games, St James's Park stadium tours and strips.
For Bede Academy student Matthew Jefferson it was a chance to emulate his hero Hatem Ben Arfa.
The nine-year-old from Blyth, said: “I am a striker and have learned a lot of skills and things about shooting I did not know.”
