The Forres Gazette is sponsoring Forres Mechanics’ under-10s football team

The Gazette is officially sponsoring the future success of the town’s biggest football team.

Forres Mechanics’ under-10s - the Mini-Cans - are proudly donning rain jackets emblazoned with our logo in a new partnership that could help the club develop the next John McGinn.

Head of youth development, Allan Frisken, is grateful to all of the businesses who are supporting the next generation of players.

He said: “We are very lucky with the offers we receive from companies wanting to sponsor our teams.

“Our u-10s have their matchday kit sponsored by Enterprise Park-based Life & Sole gym, who we‘ve had a great relationship with for nine years now.

“Their tracksuit tops are sponsored by Greshop Industrial Self Storage who also sponsor the u-12s’ tracksuits.

“Now we have the Gazette sponsoring the u-10s with new rain jackets!

“I’m delighted with all the support we get from parents too which is very much appreciated by everyone at the club.”

The U-10s started two years ago in response to demand for a team at that level. Players are chosen during open training sessions in June.

There are now 19 in the squad, training outdoor twice-a-week at Elgin High School and Kinloss astroturf.

During the winter months, they also go to the gym every third Tuesday, to do circuits or plyometrics.

They play fixtures home and away every second week against Clachnacuddin, Nairn, Strathspey, Elgin city, Lossiemouth, Buckie and Keith.

“There are no competitions or scores recorded for this age group,” explained Frisken. “This is very successful in terms of development.”

Mechanics hosted an u10s festival at Mosset Park in September which also featured teams from Dingwall, Tain and Kirkhill.

Forres Mechanics Youth Development now has over 160 players and over 20 coaches running eight teams, at under-8 to under-18 level.

Ross Macleod, Andrew Jackson and Greg Christie are the under-10s coaches.

Ross said: “Part of the reason we started the u-10s was, when the u-12s was our youngest squad, we were having to start again every year against teams that had been together for years.

“The younger we start the kids, the more used to the training and games they become. This will benefit our older teams going forward.”