DRUG taking amongst young people will come under the spotlight at a series of workshops being organised by the Worcestershire Football Association.

The Worcestershire FA, under the chairmanship of Ken Clifford, has arranged the workshops as part of the FA's drug education and awareness programme.

The evening sessions aim to raise the awareness of youth league organisers, club secretaries, team coaches, managers and parents to the growing risk of youngsters getting involved with drug abuse.

The first workshop has been arranged for next Monday in conjunction with the Mercian Elgar and Malvern Youth Leagues.

John Dickinson, of the West Mercia Police crime and disorder team, will give an address at the Wych-avon District Council Civic Centre committee rooms in Pershore at 7pm.

Worcestershire FA's football development officer Andy Norman said: "Although we are not aware of any drug problems in the county, relating to football, we need to be alert to the risk and dangers of drugs.

"We will address the potential problem in this manner by educating club officials and parents to be aware of the potential risks and recommend the action to take."

Anyone interested in reserving a place at the workshop should contact Norman on 01905-827261.

Meanwhile, budding girl football stars are jumping at the chance to show off their skills through the newly acclaimed Kidderminster Harriers Centre of Excellence.

Over 50 girls attended the first of four assessment sessions arranged at University College Worcester.

Trials are being held over a four-week period at under-12, under-14 and under 16 level.

Harriers have just been granted a licence by the FA to run a girls' centre of excellence which, for the first time enables girls from Worcestershire to develop their football skills in a structured way.

The FA's National Game Division, led by Steve Parkin, is leading the development and investment in English grass roots football.

Centre director and Kidderminster Harriers Football in the Community officer, Nick Griffiths, said he was pleased with the standard and numbers turning out.