For a city the size of Southampton with its population of some 210,000, it is perhaps surprising that the Tyro League boasts only one team made up of players mostly of an ethnic origin.

Nicholstown under-12s contain mixed races of Indian and Pakistani boys, a Saudi Arabian lad along with one English representative - all of them being from the Newtown/Nich-olstown area of the city.

"We've also had a Lithuanian and West Indian lads as well," said manager Rajinder Roath.

"In fact, we have had seven different nationalities in the side although some have moved on now, but we are hoping to sign a Dutch player for next season!"

Nicholstown are very much a new club who started up last May after Roath had spotted the boys kicking a ball around on the street corners.

"I asked them why they weren't playing on the local park and they told me that they were until some older boys had come along and kicked them off it so that they could play on it.

"I offered to try and get the boys into a proper league and it all went from there," revealed Roath.

But it nearly didn't get off the ground at all. With little money and no kit, it needed a heartfelt plea from Rajinder via the Daily Echo last summer to really get things moving for the boys.

"After our plight was highlighted in the Echo, a lady from Southampton, who wanted to remain anonymous, kindly gave us money to buy one kit and the St Mary's Fire Brigade bought us a second strip," added Rajinder.

"Crime Concern of Southampton, who are funded by the Southampton Regeneration Board, also paid for me to go on a first aid and Junior Team Manager's course.

"I'm hoping now that this club are up and running that other teams will follow suit. I know of three of four teams who are thinking of joining the league next season.

"I'm also keen that we can start up a girls team next season as well, there is a lot of interest," confirmed Roath.

Their opponents were, Hamble Boys, who have had teams in the Tyro League since its formation. Club secretary Shirley Mildenhall has been in post for 15 years.

Hamble are a thriving club with boys' teams in all the age groups of Tyro - providing an alternative sport in the home of sailing.

The Hamble boys had obviously learned from their 4-1 defeat at the hands of Nicholstown just a few weeks ago and probably shaded a goalless first half in which they created a number of chances.

Harjit Roath saw his effort disallowed for offside a couple of minutes after the restart.

Top scorer Mark Terry made his mark midway through the second half when he sprung the offside trap to coolly slot the ball past the advancing keeper Abra Ali.

Hamble almost added a second goal soon after when shots from Ben Palmer and Reece Stafford were both kicked away by an under siege Nicholstown defence.

But the visitors finished strongly and grabbed an equaliser ten minutes from time when Mongal Taak side-stepped a Hamble challenge before hitting a superb dipping 20-yarder just under the crossbar.

The goal signalled a late Nicholstown surge but Hamble managed to hold out for a deserved point.

l Anyone interested in joining Nicholstown or helping with a new girls' team next season can contact Rajinder on 07966 296840.

* FOR THE BEST YOUTH FOOTBALL COVERAGE READ MUD LARK EVERY THURSDAY IN THE DAILY ECHO AND IN THE PINK ON SATURDAYS.