TOWN'S Football in the Community Scheme are gearing up for a festive footie bonanza.

The scheme, which is the only one in the area to receive the Football Association's charter standard status, is staging a series of one-day soccer schools for children, aged five to 16, later this month.

The Charter Standard guarantees there are qualified coaches, proper facilities and safety for the youngsters.

The Three Lions Indoor Football Arena at Waterloo is the venue for two days of coaching.

Places, for boys and girls, are limited to 80 at each session held on December 22 and 23 and are priced £10 to be booked in advance.

Each child attending will receive a commemorative certificate and a free match ticket voucher to watch a Town home league match game and there will be player of the day awards plus the chance to test skills in a prize penalty shoot-out competition.

There is also a chance that Town players may call by for a chat and to sign autographs during both sessions.

Chief Town FITC officer Paul France said: "Our aim is to offer fun coaching sessions for children to learn new skills or enhance existing ones.

"It's a great chance for youngsters to get some exercise ahead of the busy Christmas period."

Places must be pre-booked (priced £10) for Monday, December 22 and Tuesday, December 23 (10.30am to 3.30pm).

* The scheme's weekly mini-soccer school held on Saturday mornings will continue through the Christmas holidays at the indoor Three Lions facility.

The school costs £3 per session, pay-on-the-day. Five to nine years-olds is from 9.00-10.45 and 10-16 years from 11.00-12.45.