Students on the ball for fire-hit club

APPRENTICES from a city college have been called in to help save the future of a youth football team, after its changing facilities were burned down by vandals.

The changing room on John's Place, which was used by Leith Athletic, was gutted after being set on fire by vandals last month.

The club has more than 600 players and it was estimated that repairs to the changing facilities, which were also used for storing equipment, could run into thousands of pounds.

But the hut is now to be restored for a fraction of the cost, with Telford College announcing it would fully restore the cabin by using the challenge as a project for first-year apprentices.

John Laing, sector business senior manager at Edinburgh's Telford College, said: "Leith Athletic Football Club has been a fantastic community resource and the fire damage left hundreds of children without the facilities they deserve.

"We're more than happy to invest the students' time into this project which will not only ensure the club can now use its resources in other areas, but restore it to full working order.

"This will be a great project for our first-year apprentices as they will be putting their skills back into the community from the word go, to benefit one of the largest and most successful clubs in the east of Scotland."

Leith Athletic Football Club was established in 1996 to give local children the opportunity to represent the port of Leith on the football field. It is now one of the largest and most successful clubs in the east of Scotland, with players aged from five to 21.

The cabin was used by up to 80 youngsters at weekends as they took part in a range of different league games.

Albert Bungay, Leith Athletic club president, said: "We're very grateful to the college for helping us repair the fire- damaged hut as to replace it would have left us very badly out of pocket.

"The team here are looking forward to the work starting when the college students return from their summer holidays and the end result will be such a great asset to the club.

"Although we were very upset when we discovered our hut had been damaged, the college's generous offer will allow us to start the new season on a fresh foot."

Miles Dibsdall OBE, principal at Edinburgh's Telford College, said: "We're very keen to support our community and play a key role in the development of future generations.

"Leith Athletic is the perfect example of a strong community-based group and we are always eager to put our resources to good use both inside and outside the classroom."