The Fit 4 Football scheme is being run by former Nottingham Forest and Chesterfield centre-half Steve Blatherwick, who hails from Hucknall, and ex-Notts County, Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield Wednesday striker David Reeves.
Training camps held to promote the initiative do not just focus on football skills.
There is also a strong emphasis on all-round care of the body, including healthy eating, and boys taking part are served fruit smoothies.
A ‘taster’ of the project was held at Hucknall National Comprehensive School on Annesley Road for two days last week.
This was attended by about 30 boys from various primary schools in the Hucknall area.
The ‘taster’ was in advance of a Fit 4 Football course to be held at the same venue during the Easter holidays (March
25 to 28) and again between May 27 and 30.
Blatherwick (34), who lives in Papplewick, and Reeves (40) had careers totalling more than 40 years between them as professional footballers.
A testimonial match for Blatherwick between Chesterfield and Forest was held at Saltergate last July.
“We are both keen to put something back into the game,” he said. “I cannot think of anything more worthwhile than passing what we know about football to youngsters.
“Fit 4 Football has been running in Sheffield for a year or so and we wanted to bring it to the Nottingham area as well.”
Blatherwick, who prides himself on being ‘a Hucknall lad,’ is not only a qualified football coach but also a personal trainer and sports therapist.
He runs one of Hucknall Sports Youth Club’s teams, while he and Reeves jointly coach Gainsborough Trinity, who play in Hucknall Town’s Blue Square North league.

hucknalldispatch.co.uk