Footie team are sock as a parrot

4:32pm Tuesday 2nd October 2007

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By Sally Henfield »

A YOUTH football team was refused an £80 council grant to buy much-needed kit after it was ruled footballers should buy their own socks.

Knuzden Youth Football Club's application for a first-aid kit could also be declined on the grounds that it should have been bought at the start of the season.

Rather than being turned down by officials, the applications have been decided by the team's own peers.

Youngsters on Hyndburn District Youth Council have been in charge of allocating £8,219 to youth-related projects.

Knuzden YFC had applied to buy 20 new pairs of royal blue socks, at £4 a pair. The youth council said that the team should buy its own kit.

It added that the first-aid kit should have been bought at the start of the season but a grant could be approved if it was really needed.

Knuzden club secretary Dusty Miller said: "A sponsor usually pays for our kit but he sold the company and we didn't have the money to get the new bits we needed.

"Socks are the first item to suffer wear and tear. The socks were for the seniors who have two years before they go to play in the Sunday league. They can't wear the same socks until then.

"I applied for the grant to keep costs down. If costs are too expensive youngsters can't always play."

Despite declining the grant applications, the Hyndburn Local committee for Lancashire County Council still has £2,978 in its youth grant fund to spend by April.

County councillor Doreen Pollitt, Accrington West, said: "The decision is made by the young people and then they ask us as members if it is OK.

"Young people are constantly criticised for bad behaviour. Being involved in the youth council is very positive."

Grants put forward for approval by the youth council include £300 for Enfield Cricket Club for training equipment; £1,000 for Accrington sea cadets' annual running costs; £500 for 2nd Rishton Methodist Brownies for two nine-man tents and £1,000 for Clayton le Moors Fitness 4 Boxing team to go a trip to Copenhagen.