A YORK junior football team are still going strong thanks to the efforts of two women.

British Sugar Under-15s won promotion to division one of their age group in York British Sugar Minor League at the end of last season but were suddenly in danger of folding at the start of the current campaign when they lost their manager.

Julie Jackson and Adele Lund stepped into the breach to keep the team going and, although the lads are struggling near the foot of division one, they have received a surprise boost with a set of new kit from British Sugar.

"We hadn't any experience of running a football team when we decided to run the team, but we have picked it up as we have gone along," explained Mrs Jackson.

"Mrs Lund is the secretary, sorting out fixtures and making sure the players have transport to get to games.

"I do the laundry and prepare the food for the lads after each home game.

"They have always had second-hand kit until now. Mrs Lund wrote to British Sugar asking if it might be possible for them to give us new kit and they have obliged.

"The new colours are red and black and we also have new training tops in the same colours."

The team coach who takes charge of the lads at matches is Simon Brind.

Updated: 12:04 Wednesday, February 20, 2002