York men are being encouraged to lace up their boots and kick off their fitness by joining Back to Boots football sessions at York Sports Village in Heslington on Wednesday 12 June.

York City in the Community and benenden health are backing a second block of council-run sessions following an extremely popular first nine weeks. The sessions take place from 6.30pm to 7.30pm and will run weekly to Wednesday 31 July. As well as learning and improving football skills from the expert York City coaches, new players will also be offered a free health check.”

The sessions are aimed at men who want to return to football and increase their activity levels, and there has been great feedback from participants who have attended so far.

Tony, a Back to Boots Football participant said: “As I have just moved to York it was a good chance for me to make new friends and meet new people as well as getting my fitness back, all in all a really good project.”

Graham, another player, said: “It’s a good number of years since I last played football and as well as the sessions helping maintain my general level of fitness, I wanted to see what I was still capable of achieving in a modestly competitive environment.”

City of York Council, along with York City in the Community and benenden health, want to continue to build on the current sport programme. The eight weekly sessions of quality coaching will cost £30, with participants able to sign up for a free health check offered by York City’s health and wellbeing partner benenden health in association with the Nuffield Health York Hospital.

Depending on numbers signing up to play, the council will look at developing a Senior/Masters five-a-side football league, supported by North Riding County FA.

For more information and to reserve your place contact Catriona Sudlow, City of York Council’s Physical Activity Officer, on (01904) 553377 or email catriona.sudlow@york.gov.uk