When Paul Ross volunteered to assist with his then seven-year-old son's village football team he never imagined he would still be coaching many of the group a decade later.

Paul has taken players who made the journey with him through all the age levels at Holbrook Hornets youngsters to a new venture by helping set up a new reserve team at Holbrook Swan.

Paul's son Aaron, who turned 18 at the end of August, will be part of a squad being built to enter the Ipswich Sunday League this season alongside six of the same players who were there at the start.

The new side have received a £250 Team Sport award from Paul's employers UK Power Networks, which distributes electricity across the East of England.

Paul, who works at the company's Fore Hamlet office in Ipswich, said: "We are essentially starting from scratch and the award, combined with other donations, will go towards the funding of our new kit which the team, the manager and myself are truly grateful for.

"Aaron is one of seven originals and while a few players have come and gone over the years, during the past four we have kept roughly the same squad together and now everyone is looking forward to the challenge of playing senior football.

"We're still recruiting to bolster our numbers and I'll still be coaching. The move to adult football means I've been able to register myself as a player, but at 51 I don't expect to be selected over any of the younger lads unless we're getting really desperate."

The Team Sport Award scheme encourages UK Power Networks staff to volunteer in the community and is aimed at promoting healthy living, teamwork and development of sporting opportunities.

Hundreds of community and sports groups have benefited from grants since the scheme was set up. During 2020, more than 60 teams benefitted to a combined sum of £15,500.