SPORTY students are learning the importance of healthy bodies and healthy minds, thanks to a new football scheme backed by Spurs and Southgate College.

Aimed at encouraging young people to perfect their football skills while at the same time pursuing further education, The Southgate College Education and Football Development Centre partnership has scored well with young men since launching in September, but now the scheme has also been extended to girls aged 16 to 19.

To mark the occasion, manager Harry Redknapp invited some of the current participants along to a special training session at the Spurs Lodge training ground in Chigwell, last Friday. Soccer stars Joe Jordan, Tim Sherwood and Les Ferdinand also lent a hand with coaching the group.

He said: "It was great to meet the guys and see that they are being given the opportunity to play the game they love in a competitive environment, as well as continuing with their academic studies. I just told them that they're still young enough to achieve whatever they want to achieve if they work hard at it, and I hope they take that message with them."

Principal of Southgate College, David Byrne described the scheme as "life-changing" and added: "Some of these lads have come from very difficult environments and engaging in education can be difficult, so they need a hook, and football has given them this and enabled them to excel both in a sporting and academic sense."

Girls hoping to score a place on the scheme, which begins in September, can take part in trials during the half-term week, from May 31. For more information, call Karen Hills, Girls Development Officer for Tottenham Hotspur on 0208 365 5134.