IT was always the fear of all young football fans. How do you play if you can’t get in the school team?

Fulford School have found the answer.

They have teamed up with the North Riding County FA and the Football Association’s Team Sixteen initiative to launch Football League Fulford – a lunch-time league where students in years nine, ten and 11 face off in matches three times a week.

Around 150 lads, in 13 teams across the three age groups, have created their own brands, bought their own shirts and – each under the coaching of a member of the Year 11 first team – are playing competitive matches.

Two groups will see the top four clash in two-legged quarter-finals before the knockout stages continue with a winner being crowned just before Easter.

Nick Bradley, a teacher at Fulford School, said: “The idea is to try to reduce the drop out rate from youngsters who play football until 16 and then don’t carry on.

“We want to encourage boys and girls to get involved in football within the school.

“It has been really successful so far and the games have been quite close. No one is really walking away with it yet.”