THEY thought it was all over - but it's not now.

Sedbergh now has a junior football team for the first time in 29 years thanks to the hard work and dedication of the local community.

The Sedbergh Wanderers Junior Football Club is in its first season but already has two competitive under 7 and under 8 teams playing in the Kent Valley League.

Their progress as a club has been so impressive that they beat 12,000 other applicants en route to winning a £500 grant from Skipton Building Society's Grassroots Giving scheme.

The money has already been spent on state of the art equipment to try to help their players achieve their full potential.

But the support of the local community has been key to the club's early success with more than 70 Sedbergh residents turning out to watch the first under 7's home game played at Havera Park.

In total, the club has raised more than £1,500 from various sources, some more unusual than others.

Hundreds of pounds was raised when parents pulled a truck for three miles from Kirkby Lonsdale to Sedbergh and, elsewhere, one parent undertook a 'Born Survivor' challenge and jumped 120km over a 30km course.

The hurdler alone raised £450.

Kevin Kirby is responsible for getting the club off the ground - with more than 30 years experience in grass roots football, Kevin was able to draw on a wealth of contacts to help secure grants.

He also coaches the under 7 team which includes players James Moffat and Nathan Todd whose fathers, Ivan and Andrew, were also coached by Kevin several years ago.

Kevin said: "Sedbergh has got a really good senior team but all the young lads are playing all over Cumbria because there was no junior team. Hopefully they will all come back. The support of the Westmorland FA and the people of Sedbergh has been brilliant."

The club is hoping to expand on its infrastructure, which already includes a child welfare officer and three FA Level 1 coaches, in the coming months.

Parents are also undertaking a coast to coast bike ride to raise more funds.