EX-SAINTS boss Alan Ball has teamed up with one of his former Pompey players to offer budding local female footballers the chance to one day play at a high level ... in America.

Ball has been given "a new lease of life" since setting up the Alan Ball Football Academy back in the summer.

Starting with twice-weekly coaching sessions, the academy is now a five-nights-a-week concern and expanding all the time.

It has recently gone into partnership with American-based coaching company BEST (British European Soccer Training), which is run by Dave Pettican, who played for Pompey when Ball was youth team coach in the early 1980s.

And Ball's son Jimmy, one of the coaches on his father's academy, said: "Due to our contacts in America we could offer something to any girls who really want to progress in the game. In America women's football is massive, it's probably bigger then men's soccer."

Jimmy Ball continued: "My dad is loving it with his academy. He's out most nights helping to coach the kids.

"It's given him a new lease of life."

Every week Ball's academy coaches take sessions for kids aged 6-13 in Fleming Park, Lymington, Portsmouth, Basingstoke and Southampton Sports Centre.

Jimmy Ball continued: "Obviously we would like one day for the kids at our academy to progress to the academies at Saints or Pompey.

"But really we just want to improve everyone - right down to little Jonny who can't get in the school team but comes to us and we give him a bit more confidence and ability.

"It's not a fun camp we run, but obviously we want the kids to have fun.

"My dad is a great example to all kids - he was rejected by two clubs but was always determined and worked hard to get another chance.

"You don't have to go to a professional club's academy if you want to play professionally - there are a lot of late developers around."

The ABFA are running pre-Christmas three-day courses from December 20-22 inclusive at Henry Court Community School in Warsash and Southampton Sports Centre. Cost is £35 to members and £39 for non-members.

Further details on the courses and the ABFA are available from 023 8026 6613.