Former amateur football club Blackstoun United has risen from the ashes in the shape of a new kids’ team.
Ex-player Neil Fox has helped to resurrect the Paisley outfit after it folded a number of years ago.
Neil is now a coach and is urging youngsters to “be part of getting this successful team back up and running again”.
The 39-year-old has already recruited a group of future footie stars, born in 2006 and 2007, but he and his fellow coaches are looking to make more signings ahead of the new season.
The gaffer explained: “Blackstoun United were an amateur team that started up in 2000.
“Me and another one of the coaches played for them over the nine or ten years they were going. We won around 15 trophies.
“Due to work commitments, the team folded.
“I’ve coached at youth level before and I decided that instead of going around clubs, I’ll go for it and do it myself for a change.
“We hummed and hawed about the name and then we thought ‘we’ll go for Blackstoun’, because the team will be playing out of Ferguslie.
“The idea was it would be a Blackstoun team.
“We’ve got about 11 boys at the moment but we’re obviously looking to add to that.
“We’re looking to add coaches as well – there’s two of us at the moment and we’re looking for another two at least anyway.”
And with the new season set to start in just a few weeks, Neil revealed preparations for the upcoming campaign are well and truly under way.
The young 11-a-side team has already played friendly matches, while it’s hoped the fledgling club can establish their home ground at the Ferguslie Park sports centre.
Neil added: “I’ve been in contact with the league already - the Paisley and Johnstone District League - to try and get everything up and running.
“We’ve got games lined up near enough every Saturday.
“I’m hoping the boys will have their first tournament at the start of June.”
Blackstoun have also received new kits and backing from Paisley pool and snooker hall, Pockets.
And, asked what message the United coach would give to any kids in the area who want to get their footie boots on, Neil said: “We train twice a week, Tuesday and Thursday nights, at Morar Drive in Foxbar.
“If you’re looking for a new challenge for the new season, and you want to be part of getting this successful football team back up and running again, definitely get in touch.”
To become part of the team, you can contact Neil by calling 07894270989 or by sending an email to blackstoununitedfc06@yahoo.com
