SAINTS duo Dexter Blackstock and Matt Oakley helped officially launch the 2005 Friends Provident Hampshire Fair Play youth football awards at St Mary's.

The awards have become one of the county's leading accolades in promoting sportsmanship and goodwill at grass-roots level.

Open to boys and girls aged between seven and 15, the aim of the awards is to look beyond the top scorers and star players to honour those who show the spirit of the game.

Kicking off this year's Hampshire-wide hunt for young soccer heroes, Friends Provident's Ashley Taylor said his company - Saints' main sponsor - was delighted to back the Fair Play awards for the sixth year running.

"There were record entries for the Fair Play awards last year, which really sums up the enthusiasm for promoting sportsmanship in young players across the community," said Taylor.

"We are not looking for the best players or teams but for those who epitomise the spirit of the game and those who work with young people to promote such spirit.

"Whether young people go on to play professionally, as a hobby or simply as supporters, we hope the sporting attitudes they learn in youth football will stay with them throughout their lives."

Jim Pearson, chairman of the Eastleigh and District mini soccer league, said the awards played a vital role in encouraging sportsmanship.

"There can sometimes be too much pressure on young players to succeed at all costs," he said.

"Fair Play rewards fantastic attitude in parents, coaches and young players and there can't be a higher honour than that."

The awards, run in association with Saints, backed by both the FA and the Hampshire FA and supported by local newspapers including the Southern Daily Echo, include honours for the most improved player and club of the year.

The category for the most outstanding contribution to youth football is also open to adults.

Clubs across the county will be sent details of Fair Play, with secretaries and managers encouraged to nominate players.

The most outstanding nomination will receive the Fair Play awards at a prize-giving lunch event at St Mary's in May.