THERE was no better way of kicking off a new sporting academy at Eastleigh.

Soccer legend Matt le Tissier swapped the football pitch for the cricket nets to test his bowling skills.

He was joined by Hampshire County Cricket's Billy Taylor as they bowled against cricketing students.

The sports stars were at Barton Peveril to launch "team BP" which is an opportunity for students to develop their sporting aspirations while studying at the same time.

Students will benefit from some of the best support available, including access to physiotherapists, advice on sports psychology and individual training programmes.

Meanwhile, female football stars got the chance to show off their skills at a specially-organised competition. The Adidas Community Cup, featuring under-13s girls' sides from eight schools from in and around Southampton, was set up and run entirely by students from Eastleigh's Barton Peveril College. Teenagers taking the Community Sports Leadership Award organised everything from the refereeing to timing, and first aid to score keeping during the competition at Fleming Park Leisure Centre, Eastleigh.