GFA Centre of Excellence opened

Coaches from Bournemouth AFC attended the first training session

The best young Guernsey footballers will have links with professional clubs through the GFA's Centre of Excellence, which opened its doors on Friday.

The centre holds weekly training sessions for players at Under-12, 13 and 14 levels.

Southampton FC and AFC Bournemouth have already committed to sending coaches.

GFA football development officer Paul Mooney said: "This centre does give us, and the youngsters, access to the pro clubs which is currently missing."

The opening night of the centre was attended by two coaches from AFC Bournemouth, head of community Steve Cuss and Jason Blake who is in charge of technical development for their centre of excellence.

Cuss said: "We are coming over here to back this centre of excellence and the hope is we can find a star player and if that star player can come and play for Bournemouth then that's fantastic."