The parent and child programme is being delivered by social enterprise Real Football for Youths, across a host of schools in the Johnstone area.

Targeting mothers and their pre-school child, the weekly classes are being laid on at St Anthony’s Primary School in partnership with Spateston pre-five centre, Auchenlodment Primary — and now also St David’s Primary and Cochrane Castle Primary, which is a joint campus site.

Real Football for Youths is headed by former professional footballer Tony Gervaise.

As well as a 12 year professional career with the likes of Clydebank and Hamilton Accies, Gervaise also has 25 years experience in player development as well as various other coaching roles, including a spell in charge of the Arsenal ladies side.

His aim is deliver the programme to as many people parent and children as possible — and he hopes to make a difference with the classes.

He said: “It is great to use football as a means of helping mothers and their kids.

“It gives them the opportunity to become fit together — and I hope it helps to make a big difference.

“It is amazing to see the range of people that come in to the classes, but watching the improvement and the interaction between everyone shows that these classes can have a positive effect.” As it stands, currently 30 parents take part in the football fun activities.

The range of games help children to develop general fitness and a range of movement in their early years.

The group also strives to develop interaction between parents and their children — as well as aiming to improve home life and mother and child’s well-being.

The target is to achieve all of this through a developed and adapted programme in a safe and fun learning environment for all of those involved. The programme is supported by Comic Relief funding, without which none of the classes would be possible.