FOOTBALLERS as young as seven are signing no-swearing contracts after referees noticed them copying Premiership stars.

Coaches started getting tough on juniors at the club that has produced stars including Alan Shearer and Peter Beardsley after they started picking up bad language from televised matches.

Manchester United and England star Wayne Rooney was caught on TV cameras swearing 20 times in a one-minute exchange with a referee during a recent game against Arsenal.

And coaches at North Tyneside's Wallsend Boys' Club are worried their juniors are copying the star, so they are making them sign a code of conduct not to swear.

Club leader Garry Marshall said: "It definitely makes our job more difficult if young players see footballers screaming at referees.

"In years gone by, the code of conduct was something that was understood and there was no need to put policies down on paper. Now at the start of every season, every player has a written code of conduct, as do managers and parents."

The club is also tough on spitting, with playing bans for anyone caught. Mr Marshall said: "Our club has very strict policies and procedures and I think you can see it in the players who have come through the club, people like Alan Shearer and Peter Beardsley, who are good role models who have never been in any trouble.

"We may be more strict than the FA. They make the rules for professionals and we make them for our lads."