Youngsters are being offered free football match tickets as part of summer coaching courses in Sedgefield and Newton Aycliffe. For every child who takes part in his four-day course later this month, Darlington manager Martin Gray is buying a match ticket for the Quakers’ first game of the new season.

The summer sessions, which cost £50 per place for all four days, run from Monday 13th August to Thursday 16th August (10am to 3pm every day) at Sedgefield Community College, and from Monday 20th August to Thursday 23rd August at Greenfield Community College Newton Aycliffe and are available to boys and girls aged 5-14.

Every participant will get a free match ticket to Darlington’s first Northern League game against Bishop Auckland, at Bishop’s Heritage Park ground in the opening day of the 2012-13 season on Saturday 18th August, when a capacity 2,000-crowd is expected.

They will also get the chance to meet Darlington’s players after the game, to get pictures and autographs. “We want to involve as many local youngsters as possible on our courses, which are becoming more and more popular every year,” said Gray, who heads up Greenfield School’s renowned Football Academy and took over as Darlington manager earlier this summer.

“Our emphasis is always very much on fun, so regardless of ability everyone enjoys themselves first and foremost, but our coaches will also bring the best of our more talented players.

“We want to encourage all youngsters to get involved in football, in a safe and fun environment with fully-qualified and CRB-checked coaches, and everyone who has signed up to our previous courses have enjoyed the experience.”

To book a place/s on the summer coaching course, or for more details about the Martin Gray Football Academy and its services, call Martin on 07738 131914

emailinfo@martingrayfootballacademy.co.uk, or go to www.martingrayfootballacademy.co.uk