DEVIZES TOWN SIX-A-SIDE: ASPIRING soccer stars from across the west attended Devizes Town Youth's six-a-side tournament at the weekend.

A massive 144 teams and 1,000 players tackled, passed, shot and saved to help their team progress on a chilly but dry weekend.

Organiser and Devizes U14s manager, Mark Surman, said it was a great atmosphere especially for the boys U13s and 14s finals.

"I was really pleased for my lads as it is the last time they will be able to play in their home tournament and to end it with a win is great," Surman added.

"Also theU13s won which means we must be doing something right at local level.

"Everyone seemed to really enjoy it and it is a great way to end the season especially with a couple of the Devizes sides winning.

"It's good to get it over a done with too. We can look forward to everyone else's now."

Surman said he was impressed with the standard of football on show.

"It was a very high standard and especially form the U9s who had some very good and talented players.

"It was also great to see the U7s and 8s running around after the ball."

Surman said everyone enjoyed the day and was grateful to a number of people who made it run smoothly.

"The President of Devizes Town, Chris Dodd, did a sterling job on the barbecue, Paul Humphries, his wife Alison and Dave Willis made the results run smoothly and Emily Francis helped doing various things all weekend."

Surman also thanked groundsman Ted Robinson who took a day off work to help line out the pitches.

"I take off a week to sort it out but it's great when someone does that sort of thing to help us when he actually does not have anything to do with the youth side.

"I am so grateful to everyone involved in making the event so successful."

Surman also thanked Devizes Town Football Club and Southbroom Junior School for use of their facilities.