BUDDING young footballers are kicking on thanks to a new Saturday morning nine-a-side league in Greenock.

Players from a variety of Inverclyde clubs are being given the chance to play on grass every week at Battery Park as part of an initiative aimed at bridging the gap between seven and full 11-a-side matches.

The new league is run by the Scottish Football Association and Paisley & Johnstone District League in partnership with Inverclyde Council and Inverclyde Leisure, who are providing pitches.

Among the clubs taking part are East End United, St Andrew's, Ardgowan and Morton Community teams at the 2007 age group level.

Stuart Rafferty, SFA football development officer for Inverclyde, said: "It's part of the SFA's Player Pathway and they're trying to get associations throughout Scotland to buy into that.

"The P&J League, which most of our teams down here play in at certain age groups, were putting on 9v9 and looking for venues throughout Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and here in Inverclyde.

"Our council have been very good and there's four pitches here at Battery Park on a Saturday morning and we've made it a hub.

"Seven or eight teams play here each week as well as teams from outwith the area.

"It seems to be going well, especially with the good weather we've had and that also means the pitches are in good condition."

The idea has been driven by coaches and as well as filling a void between seven and 11-a-side games, young players are being given the chance to play on grass instead of artificial pitches.

Stuart said: "The facilities we have in Inverclyde are great and 3G is great but if you can get a decent grass pitch it's a bonus and the teams are enjoying playing on grass.

"The other good thing about our pitches is they are specifically measured out for nine-a-sides.

"It's not just the SFA that's decided on this, a lot of coaches thought there was too big a gap between sevens and 11s and have been raising that for a number of years."

The Saturday sessions are expected to run until November then there will be a break over the winter before the action resumes in February/March through until the summer.