IAN Juryeff is a man on a mission - to bring children throughout Hampshire together through the game of football.

Five years ago, Ian was appointed Football Community Development Officer for Southampton Football Club.

His role is to take football back to a grassroots level and make it accessible for all of the community.

There is probably no one better qualified to do this role than Ian. During 1983 he played for the Saints and, earlier in his career, for Reading Football Club.

Ian, 39, said: "Throughout Hamp-shire we run 120 courses, such as after-school clubs and Saturday clubs. We teach thousands of children each week.

"When I started working in the community there were only 20 after- school clubs.

"The clubs are open for children from ages five to 14 and we even do clubs for disabled kids and girls-only groups."

The club's coaching courses run right across the region and enable children to learn and improve the basic skills of the game.

Fully qualified coaches teach the art of shooting, passing, heading, tackling and dribbling - but the emphasis is firmly on fun and enjoyment.

Ian added: "At this stage it is all about enjoying the game and we want to encourage youngsters of all ages and abilities to get involved.

"There are mini competitions but the main thing is to ensure everyone has a good time and improves at their own pace and level.

"No one will be made to feel out of place.

"It is a good way of getting them involved with the club and making them feel part of things - and that is noticeable with the increasing trend towards more Saints shirts being worn and fewer strips from the likes of Manchester United and Liver-pool."

Recently the club has received a £60,000 grant from the Single Regeneration Budget - a government initiative designed to improve inner city areas.

Over the next three years that will enable Saints to provide free coaching and souvenirs for 14 schools throughout Inner Shirley.

It is a major coup for Ian, who managed to persuade the SRB to fund the scheme, believed to be the first of its kind.

He said: "The money will enable us to put two coaches into the schools to provide them with ten-week blocks of coaching.

"We will also be giving the schools kit, fleeces, T-shirts, hats and vouchers for games to use as incentives or however they choose.

"Hopefully, that will encourage youngsters to follow the Saints. It is disappointing to see so many wearing kits of clubs from the other end of the country when they have a Premiership team on their own doorstep.

"This should get them more involved with us as well as improving their skills and developing their interest in the game.

"It will be good for the schools who are getting fully qualified coaches free of charge and it will be terrific for the area."

As well as enabling kids to learn to be like the football heroes such as James Beattie or Matt Le Tissier, Ian goes into schools to given talks about issues such as health, fitness, bullying and smoking.

"I talk to them about bullying because football is all about team spirit. I like to show them what they can achieve with their lives.

"The community projects that we run are all about children. People aren't aware how much Southampton Football Club actually do in the community.

"Also, our coaches are scouts for the Saints academy, so we keep our eye on any potential talent within the after-school clubs.

"Some of the kids from our clubs have gone on to training in the Saints academy.

"We also run clubs for disabled children and in the future we are hoping to have more clubs for children with disabilities.

"Football is very important to the community because it crosses all the boundaries such as race, gender and disability.

"Everyone loves football and it is really good that we are able to give the children of Hampshire a chance through the game."

For further information telephone 0870 2200 170.