A FOOTBALL coach went back to his old school to pass on life and organisation skills through the beautiful game.

Kieran Howard, from Brymbo, a Football Association of Wales (FAW) coach went back to Ysgol Bryn Alyn in Gwersyllt, where he was a former pupil, as part of a project which helps youngsters use football to find and develop new skills.

He took a group of 17 pupils from the school and set them the task of arranging their own football tournament from start to finish - arranging everything from booking venues to publicising the event.

"It's a project run by the FAW Trust called Play More Football", he said.

"We go in to schools to put on training but also teach pupils about the various other jobs you can get in football such as groundsman, analyst and physio.

"There were 17 pupils who are all sports ambassadors for the school and they will now go away and create their own football tournament for primary schools.

"This will include them organising everything from risk assessments and first aid to booking the venue and producing posters.

"It is teaching them that there is more to football than just kicking a ball. Hopefully they will pick up life skills, teamwork and problem solving."

He added: "I've given them ideas to head in the right direction and they have now formed a sub-committee to organise it and I will see how they get on in follow up visits.

"As a former Bryn Alyn pupil it was good to go back to the school and see some of the same staff members still there, have a catch up with them and put something back into the school.

"When I was at school I never dreamed I'd end up working for the FAW so I wanted to show the kids that dreams can come true and help inspire, and they seemed to embrace that."

Andy Jones, head of PE at Ysgol Bryn Alyn said: "It was really good to welcome Kieran back to the school today and great for the students to see a former pupil doing so well.

"Hopefully we will be able to continue to work with him and develop links with the FAW.

"It was good for the pupils to see the bigger picture and show maturity. It bodes well for their future."