GAMES against Nottingham Forest, Derby and Mansfield await the young soccer hopefuls of the Kent-based First Touch coaching school.

A squad of nearly 50 under-13s, under-14s and under-16s will play their age-group opponents from the professional clubs on a tour from Wednesday.

Coach Billy Bone set up the school two years ago, by selecting top young players from around the county, and has already taken teams to play against academy sides at Newcastle, Sunderland, Leicester, Millwall, Notts County, and Gillingham.

He said: "It will be another great opportunity for the lads to go and show their talent to coaches at a higher level of football.

"Clubs where we have already played have been very impressed with our players and hopefully one or two will catch the eye."

The players come from all over the county to train at St Edmund’s School, Canterbury, and the school has been given support by a new sponsor, Anthony Ignatiou of Papas restaurants.