CHRISTMAS has come early for a West Devon football club with the news it has scooped a grant from the National Lottery?s Awards for All scheme. Hatherleigh Football Club, whose first team plays in the Devon and Exeter Premier Division, has been awarded £3,458 to develop youth football at the club. Roy Smith, chairman of the club, said organisers were delighted with the award: ?We made a specific application for youth football, after we had an approach from a lady who wanted to start training for youngsters down at the sports field. ?What she didn?t have was all the equipment that is geared towards youth football, so the application was first and foremost to enable her to run these sessions.? Roy said the money is also enabling the club to buy secure storage for its equipment ? recently its sit-on lawn mower was stolen, so a safe container was considered a vital investment. Roy said junior training at Hatherleigh FC had been run very successfully in the past and the club was hoping the new sessions would prove attractive to youngsters in the Hatherleigh area. Clare Tyson, who runs the junior training, said: ?There are clubs in Okehampton and Holsworthy, but I wanted to do something for the Hatherleigh youngsters. I?ve got my level one coaching certificate and I just wanted to use it a bit.? Clare said the money from Awards for All meant she could buy footballs, bibs, goals and various other items of equipment to help with coaching. ?Until now I?ve been borrowing from Hatherleigh Primary School ? they?ve been very kind and lent me balls and bibs,? said Clare. The junior sessions are held on Saturday between 10.30am and noon and are open to boys and girls between the ages of nine and 12. Training starts again after the Christmas break on January 14. The club hopes that a series of friendly games can be arranged in the new year to develop the sides. Any youngster interested in playing football at Hatherleigh FC should contact Clare Tyson on 01837 811134.