FOOTBALL coach Claire Maslen has been given the job of putting Worcester City into the heart of the community.

She has been appointed community officer by the St George's Lane club with a brief to bring the sport to as many youngsters as possible.

It is a job that Maslen is more than qualified to do with a CV that boasts stints in America's Major League Soccer plus roles in the Birmingham Football Association and at Coventry City.

Maslen's role was officially launched yesterday but she has already been running several programmes inside schools in and around Worcester.

"The whole aim is to give kids the opportunity to play football and also get more of them involved in Worcester City and help make it a family club and make it more successful," she said.

Bringing football to as many young-sters as possible is Maslen's ambition and just being involved in the sport is something she has had to fight for.

"I started playing myself when I was nine or 10 but I could never play in the school team because attitudes were different then," she said.

The community programme, which is sponsored by McDonalds, Prontaprint and Cox Hepburn Insurance Services, is aimed at both girls and boys.

As part of its initiative the club will be holding a Christmas Soccer School at Bishop Perowne High School on January 2-3 from 10am-3pm. The school for 5-13 year olds will cost £18. Contact Claire on 07766-002685.