TEENAGERS in Eden will receive a visit from two former England football players to warn them of the dangers of getting involved in taking drugs and drinking too much alcohol, reports Andrew Daniels Tony Adams, a self-confessed alcoholic, along with his team-mate Lee Dixon will be launching the Kickabout Scheme tomorrow (Thursday) to give young people in places such as Appleby and Kirkby Stephen a sporting chance in life.

The new initiative, developed by Eden District Council, will help address health-related problems with the county's youngsters after a survey in 2003 revealed almost half of Cumbrian secondary school pupils, who were quizzed, had drunk alcohol in the last week, and a third claimed to have used illegal drugs.

Kickabout, with the support of Tony Adams's clinic Sporting Chance, which has helped fallen stars such as Paul Gascoigne and Adrian Mutu, will use football as a vehicle to raise young people's awareness of the devastating effect alcohol and drug abuse can have on the life of individuals, their families and the wider community.

Tomorrow, pupils from Penrith's Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, will be the first to participate in the seminar followed by a 30-minute football session with Tony Adams, Lee Dixon, John Goodman and England Ladies player Kelly Smith.

QEGS deputy head teacher Rebekah Gall said the school was delighted to participate in the launch. "At QEGS we aim to raise awareness of the dangers of illegal drugs, and to give students the confidence to resist peer group and marketing pressure."

After the launch, the Football Association is undertaking phase one of the Kickabout Scheme a ten-week programme of football activity on Friday nights between 6pm and 8pm at sporting venues across Eden, including Appleby and Kirkby Stephen. Parents and children can go along and learn football skills and take up the opportunity to get an FA coaching badge.

The scheme will be coming to the Westmorland area soon.