STUDENTS from Okehampton College are set to travel to the USA after being selected to play football for charity, writes Claire Hallett.

The five students from Year 7 and 8 are part of a group of 22 players from Devon who will join the International Sporting Alliance in Miami, Omaha City and Columbus, Ohio.

The alliance, which was set up last April, helps bring together young sporting people from all walks of life and mould them into singular playing units.

It works with a group of feeder football clubs, who put forward players they deem eligible to join the programme. The players do not leave their clubs.

The programme involves boys and girls aged from 11 to 18, who undertake an exchange programme in another country.

They will live with a host family which has been independently approved by a government agency.

The students will also attend functions and visit places of educational interest and religious instruction, such as the Amish community, to learn about their culture and customs.

Each year the alliance chooses a different charity for which to raise money.

Treasurer of the International Sporting Alliance Helen Caron said the trip would be a great opportunity for the students.

She said: Its both educational and physical and will be a huge cultural experience for them.

They will spend two days a week in a school learning and meeting different influential representatives.

We are all about helping young people and giving them opportunities and hope to develop a school for under privileged children in the near future.

The alliance currently trains in Okehampton, but will relocate to Exeter this month.

It recently travelled to Aberystwyth in Wales to take part in a friendly match against the Welsh Academy.

The alliance expressed thanks to sponsors Bardon Aggregates, which has supplied the team with a new football kit.

The players have been involved in fundraising events to pay for their trip and will take part in a sponsored bike ride from Meeth to Bideford on Saturday, August 14.

It is hoped the trip to America will take place next April.