The Darlington-based Master Skills Sporting Academy has recently completed its fourth year, with 310 children aged from four to 13-years-old each receiving a certificate and a trophy, presented by Middlesbrough player Curtis Fleming at the annual presentation evening.

The academy does not have any teams, but the children top up their skills and techniques with the help of coaches.

Fourteen of the youngsters attend football academies at Middlesbrough and Darlington.

Organiser, Paul Bielby played for Manchester United in the 1970s, and says, despite his achievements, he never possesed the skills that the academies youngsters display.