For many years the Redstone Young Saints fun sessions have been almost as hard to get into as The Dell.

Virtually every venue has been fully booked, with rare vacancies snapped up almost from the moment they are advertised.

But, with members getting older and moving on, there is at last a chance for others to join in the fun.

The club are in the unusual position of being able to offer a handful of vacancies in all age groups at all centres.

These are sure to go quickly as new youngsters take the chance to see just why these sessions have been such a hit over the years.

They are a perfect introduction to football for beginners or improvers with the emphasis firmly on fun and enjoyment.

They are ideal for all ages and standards and parents can leave their children knowing they will be safe, supervised and enjoying themselves as they play small-sided indoor games.

The Oaklands sessions cost £2.50 and run from 9.30-10.30 for those aged seven and under, 10.45-11.45 for ages 8-9 and noon until 1pm for 10-plus.

Winchester has venues at Henry Beaufort School (£3.50) and Kings School (£3) from 9.45-11.45 for all ages.

Eastpoint is £2 for younger members from 9-10am and £2.50 for older members from 11am onwards. Telephone 023 8033 4172 for details on all pay and play sessions.

The Saturday fun sessions at Cantel have now finished but the venue stages one of Saints' vastly popular after-school clubs.

These have expanded massively in recent years with more than 40 a week across the region - small wonder then that more than 63,000 children enjoy Young Saints activities each year.

The after-school clubs run on the following days:

Monday: Hampshire Tennis Centre (80361111) 4.30-5.30, 5.30-6.30, Oaklands (80739797) 4.30-5.30, 5.30-6.30, Girls CofE 6-7.30, Cantel 5.30-6.30, Compton Primary 3.30-4.30, Freegrounds 3.30-4.30, Bannister 3.15-4.15, advanced centre 6-7.30.

Tuesday: Henry Beaufort 5.30-7, River Park (01962 869525), fleming Park (80641555) 4-5, Hollybrook 3-4, Cherbourg 3.30-4.30, Berrywood 3.15-4.15, Bitterne Junior 3.10-4.10.

Wednesday: River Park 4-5, 5-6, Oaklands 4.30-5.30, Redbridge 5.30-7.30, Oakwood Infant 3.15-4.15, Norwood Primary 3.45-4.45, Barton Stacey 3.30-4.30, Droxford Primary 3.30-4.30, Girls Advanced Dell 5.30-7.

Thursday: River Park 4-5, 5-6, Clere 6-7, Newtown 7.30-8.30, Fleming Park 4-5, Haven Christchurch 1-2, Haven Warsash 2-3, Bitterne Manor 3.20-4.20, Netley Abbey Junior 3.45-4.45, Fryern 3.45-4.45, Oakwood Infant 3.15-4.15.

Friday: River Park 4-5, 5-6, Hampshire Tennis club 4.30-5.30, Hamble 4-5, Bellemoor 6-7.30, Riverside Strikers 7-8, Foundry Lane 3.15-4.15, St Monica 3.30-4.30.

The club also run disabled coaching at Millbrook from 6-7pm and they have a goalkeeping course at Fleming Park on Saturday mornings from 10.30 until noon. Phone 023 8033 4172 or the centre direct for full details and costs.

The popularity of the girls-only courses is also continuing to soar following the appointment of sue Lopez as the club's head of women's football.

They have coaching centres for girls aged 10-14 on Mondays (6.30-7.30 £1.50) at Basingstoke FC or at thornden School, Chandler's Ford (4.30-6 £2).

They run on Tuesdays at Clayfields Recreation Centre (4.30-5.30 £1.50) or on Wednesdays at the Dell (5.30-7 £2). And on Saturday mornings they are staged at Privett Park, Gosport (10.30-noon).

Toynbee School Chandler's Ford hosts sessions for girls aged under 10 from 5-6 on Wednesdays (£1.50).

ALL CHANGE: Young Saints will be in the red this season after Pure Telecom were taken over by Redstone Communications.

The sponsorship cheque was handed over on the pitch at The Dell, above, by Redstone's John Cousins, left, to Community Officer Alan Smith, who said: "We are delighted to be under the wing of Redstone and we are hoping it will be a mutually beneficial arrangement."

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.