A football club has been given £2,000 of public money for professional coaches to train its youth players.

Potters Bar Town was handed the cash by Hertsmere Council to pay for coaching for the under-14s, under-16s and under-18s sections.

The club needs money to pay for coaching, astro-turf hire and pitch hire as it looks to expand its academy section.

Potters Bar councillors James Ricks, Sarah Hodgson-Jones, Paul Hodgson-Jones and Penny Swallow all donated cash from their council WIIS funds – money provided for handouts to community and voluntary groups.

The club, which plays its senior matches at the Pakex Stadium, says it has “training and professional coaches that is equal to most academies”.

Councillor Ricks, who donated his entire £1,000 allocation to the club, said in a statement that the money would support young people staying fit and active and “continue the high standard of training that the players already enjoy”.