Budding footballers as young as seven are being forced to sign no-swearing contracts after refs noticed them copying foul-mouthed Wayne Rooney.

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

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

And coaches at the famous Wallsend Boys' Club on Tyneside are worried that their juniors are copying the star so they are making them put their names to a written code of conduct not to swear.

Club leader, Garry Marshall (CORR) 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. It's a joint partnership and we all stand up to it."

The club is also tough on spitting. A prominently-displayed sign displayed reads: "Attention! In the interests of health and hygiene, any player caught spitting on the pitch or behind the goals will be banned with immediate effect. THERE IS NO EXCUSE!"

Garry continued: "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've 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.

"If we catch a player verbally abusing a referee or official they can be released from the club."

But he added that it was asking too much to singled out footballers as role models all the time.

"People make a big deal about professional footballers being great role models but I think all adults should be role models for young people."

Recent high profile incidents have provoked public accusations that badly behaved footballers are responsible for copycat swearing and violence by young people.

Newcastle fans became accustomed to the sight of Craig Bellamy screaming at referees before his loan move to Celtic.

And Wayne Rooney shocked viewers with his four letter ranting at referee Graham Poll last month.

The outbursts even prompted Martin Ward, Deputy General Secretary of the Secondary Heads' Association to call for a bad behaviour to be banned before the 9pm watershed.