A TEAM of youngsters representing Saints had a trip to remember as they visited Manchester City’s Etihad Campus to take part in a pan-disability football festival.

More than 180 young people from 23 Premier League and English Football League clubs gathered at City’s plush training facility to join in the festival, which was organised to celebrate another successful year for the Premier League and BT Disability programme.

Participants from Saints took part in a day of football activity – starting with a skills session in the morning which saw former Premier League footballers Joleon Lescott and John Hartson, who were in attendance on behalf of the initiative, join them to take part in passing, shooting and turning challenges.

This was followed by a tournament in the afternoon which saw the teams, all dressed in the kit of the club they were representing, split into five groups.

Aston Villa, Leicester City, Stoke City, Sunderland and Watford won their respective groups and walked away with trophies.

The event was the culmination of a great second season for the Premier League and BT Disability initiative which has now seen over 23,000 participants take part in nearly 15,000 club-run sessions since September 2016.

Rob Pearce, Saints Foundation Ability and Project Officer, said: “The funding from Premier League and BT allows us to work with schools across Hampshire.

“Previously, yes, we would have worked with them, but it may be on a three or four weeks basis.

“We’re able to go into schools now for a full calendar year and then we’re able to build this structure and allow free activity for kids with all types of disabilities to come along and participate.

“And without the funding, we wouldn’t be able to do that.”