JUNIOR footballers at a club in Urmston are walking in the footsteps of Liverpool greats at Anfield, thanks to a group of offenders

The offenders who are on probation and being supervised by the Cheshire and Greater Manchester Community Rehabilitation Company (CGM CRC), have redecorated the clubhouse for Urmston Town Junior Football Club.

And their hard work has included an Anfield-style ‘this is Urmston Town JFC’ sign hanging over the door of the pavilion as the players exit to go out to play on the pitch – the same as at Anfield, the home of Liverpool FC.

The team of offenders, who are on community payback, tackled a full refurb of the football club’s changing rooms, toilets, kitchens and tuck shop in the building on Lostock Fields, off Audley Avenue in Urmston.

They painted the rooms in the club colours of blue and yellow and stencilled a collage of key words such as ‘equality’, ‘trust’, ‘respect’ and ‘fairness’ on the walls of the pavilion’s changing rooms.

The work undertaken by offenders is part of a CGM CRC initiative with Novus College to give offenders new skills and qualifications to help them back into employment.

And the new-look club headquarters is a winner with the club’s membership secretary Duncan McIntyre.

He said: “The Community Payback group did a fantastic job painting the club’s pavilion. The effort the men and women put in was fantastic and the attitude shown while carrying out the work was a credit to the system.”

Duncan also singled out the work of one offender, Andrew Holland. He said: “Andrew attended every session and his work was first class as was his attitude. Not only did he go above and beyond, coming up with and implementing some great ideas, he also did a great deal of preparation work in his own time”

Andrew said;: “I have enjoyed this project and I have great satisfaction in the work I have done for the club and the kids. It’s been a worthwhile project.”

And Steve Dyson, assistant community operations manager at CGM CRC, added: “This project is a fantastic example of community payback working with Novus and their Probation Service Education programme. This project has delivered excellent results for the community and service users have gained qualifications in painting and decorating.

"It's clear that everyone is extremely proud of what has been achieved.”