Wayne is the best role model local youngsters have

The awards are now in their fourth year and recognise good character and teamwork displayed by young footballers - boys and girls - throughout Hampshire.

Those who have the right attitude and commitment are the ones who stand the best chance of winning - not those with the most skill.

The 2003 competition was officially launched during half-time at Saints' Premiership match with Sunderland at St Mary's last weekend.

Head of communications at Friends Provident Brian Wilkinson was joined pitchside by Huw Jennings, academy director at Saints, Jim Pearson (Hampshire FA) and Daily Echo sports editor Simon Carter.

The awards were Wilkinson's idea, and he hopes the 2003 competition will see the biggest entry yet.

All youth clubs in Hampshire will soon be receiving details about how they can put players forward for awards.

Wilkinson said: "These awards aren't designed to reward outstanding individual skills.

"Instead they are to promote the enjoyment that can be had from playing football, and to reward those who put in so much hard work at grass-roots level."

In all, there are awards for the most improved player at under-ten, 12 and 15 level for boys and girls.

There are also Team-of-the-Year trophies in all the above sections.

To reward those who help run the game at that level, there is a Contribution-to-Youth-Football award.

Finally, there is the overall Fair Play award trophy.

The judging panel will consist of Wilkinson, Jennings, Pearson, another member of the Hampshire FA committee, and Southampton Saints' official Sue Lopez.

Farnborough schoolboy Bobby Patrick won the 2002 Fair Play award for the dedication and spirit he showed while playing for his local under-11s team.

The ten-year-old hot-shot was picked out of more than 120 entries, winning a magnificent trophy and a £500 cheque for his team.

The cash was presented by Saints striker James Beattie and went towards buying new kit for his Farnborough Boys Youth team.

Speaking at the 2002 awards ceremony, Beattie said: "It was fantastic to see that children of all ages are really enjoying their football. These awards are a great idea. It is important to teach youngsters the principles of fair play at an early age to stand them in good stead, whatever level they play.

"Having the right attitude to the game is the first step for any player."

Jennings admits the 2003 Fair Play awards is something that Southampton FC had to get involved in.

"One of the things we are trying to do as a club is get more involved in all football activities across the community," he admitted.

"Youth football is such an important part of the game because it's from there that we get the likes of Wayne Bridge coming through.

"We want to say to all youngsters that commitment and hard work are vital parts of the game.

"Of course to get to the top you need good skills, but these awards also recognise the fact that the game must be played in the right way.

And that message is not just aimed at the kids - it's aimed at the parents.

"They must ensure their children play the game in the right way - they have a big responsibility."

Jennings added: "We need kids coming into the academy with the right attitudes. We can teach them a lot but we hope they have already learnt a lot with regards to playing the game in the right spirit.

"We don't want kids coming to us with possible flaws in their character that might be exposed in front of a big crowd or when they're put under pressure.

"We want to say to children that there's no place in the game for abuse of referees or foul play."

Jennings admits that all youngsters in Hampshire have the best possible role model to look up to right here in their own county.

"Wayne Bridge is a great example of the right way to do things," Jennings insisted.

"Here is someone who has come from local youth football and is now playing for England.

"He has never been suspended while playing for Saints and that's amazing.

"Here is a local youngster doing it with the right attitude. And if you can do it in the Premiership, you can do it anywhere.

"I want to say to the next generation coming through that with the right approach you can succeed.

"The easiest thing for Southampton FC to do is just concentrate on what happens to the first team, but we don't want to do that.

"We want to be involved in the community and through schemes such as this we want fair play to be rewarded."

Pearson, apart from his Hampshire FA commitments, is also the chairman of the Eastleigh & District Mini-Soccer League.

His league provides small-sided games for under-eight, nine and ten age groups.

At under-eight level they play five-a-side, progressing to six-a-side at under-nine and seven-a-side at under-ten.

There is a rolling substitution rule so that all kids can be involved for most of the time.

Speaking about the awards, Pearson - a former Fair Play winner in the Contribution to Youth Football category - said: "It's important that players involved in grass-roots youth football are recognised - these are the players of the future.

"By encouraging fair play, it's installing in kids the ethos of respect.

"By that I mean respect of referees and respect for the opposition and their play. It doesn't hurt to respect your opponents and appreciate their good play."

Pearson, who helped set up the Eastleigh League four years ago, added: "Grass roots football is built on volunteers and the hard work they put in. Without them there would be no grass-roots football.

"So much emphasis is put on the professional game. That's where all the attention goes, that's where all the money is. But there has been more of a trend towards investment in grass-roots football, and you don't get any more grass-roots than kids' football."

Mini soccer is an FA initiative started a few years ago.

"The idea was to get away from having to play on full size pitches where the heftiest kids were the best because they could kick the ball the furthest," Pearson said.

"And it wasn't much fun for goalkeepers - anything more than a couple of feet above their head height resulted in a goal.

"Mini-soccer creates enjoyment, and the enjoyment comes from involvement - kids get more touches of the ball, and as a result they become better players.

"We have to target the kids with regards to promoting Fair Play. We have to get at them as early as we can - before they start to pick up bad habits.

Pearson is pleased to see a Fair Play award specifically aimed at those unsung heroes who volunteer their time to ensure youth football flourishes in Hampshire.

"There's a lot of people who give a lot of their time," he said. "I'm not just talking about my league, I'm talking about all youth leagues. It's nice to see an award that gives them a little bit of recognition."

Any club requiring further information on the Fair Play awards can contact Chris Wootton on 01489 788688 or email him at chris@lpgf.com