LIKE many an 11-year-old schoolboy, Nathan Rose is football mad.

When he told his father he wanted to play in a team, it seemed it would just be a matter of time before he found one.

Unfortunately, Nathan's attempts proved disappointing because the youngster could not find a squad to join.

Eventually, he was so fed-up that his father, Mick, set up a team of his own to give Nathan someone to play with near his home in Seaham, east Durham.

Mr Rose held trials for local under-12s, and entered them into a league.

And it has worked: the Dawdon Welfare under-12 team is top of the northern Russell Foster League.

Mr Rose also helped set up a kit deal with Seaham-based Robertson Timberkit, which supplied the 15-strong squad with strips.

Colin Lunn, company production director, said: "What Mick is doing is great.

"It's giving 15 youngsters a sport that will not just give them exercise, but teach them about teamwork, as well as an interest for life."

The squad trains twice a week, and plays each Sunday against teams from throughout the region.

It has already won five out of six matches and drawn one.

Mr Rose said: "We will play 22 matches altogether and have made a good start, so we have high hopes of winning the league."

He said the adventure would not end when Nathan and his team-mates reached their 12th birthdays.

Mr Rose said: "We'll move them into the under-13 division, then keep moving up until they're 18. They're a great team, and want to continue."