ONE man's drive and determination backed by a handful of dedicated and enthusiastic helpers has produced one of the newest and most successful sporting organisations in Truro.

The Truro City Youth Development Soccer School, the brainchild of former Truro City footballer and manager Chris Webb, celebrated its first year in style at Penair School on Friday evening.

The impressive all-weather surface and surrounding buildings hosted what could be really described as a first year anniversary party with an amazing several hundred people in attendance.

"Football in the community" is the FA's cherished dream and on this occasion the evening illustrated that point perfectly because the community has certainly played a big part in the success of the school over the year and on the night itself.

The evening began with a football match followed by presentations and a superb buffet, raffle and auction.

Among the large number of parents and children were sponsors of the school, many of whom were businesses in and outside the city and again on the night showed their support with an array of top-quality raffle prizes that included dvd's, cordless drills, an England football shirt, £100 service voucher, and much more.

The auction contained a signed Plymouth Argyle football, a signed Argyle pennant, and a Torquay United football shirt signed by all the players and donated by Torquay United's Martin Gritton who officially opened the school last summer

The under 14s had medals to collect after reaching their first-ever final in the Mullion Soccer Camp national competition although both coaches, Howard Stokes and Pete Jarman, emphasised that everything had not always been a bed of roses.

"The goals against column was not as good as it should have been," said Mr Jarman. He also said that during the season he suffered from the extreme of being proud to embarrassment. "There were plenty of ups and downs during the season, but I'm sure there are good things to come."

Mr Stokes thanked the parents for their contribution in supplying transport during the season to the soccer school and especially to Chris Webb for the school's support: "We've all got a positive attitude for next season, especially after reaching the shield final last season," said Mr Stokes. "It was a difficult season to start with and at times we only had nine players, so to reach the shield final was a great achievement."

Mr Ian Peters, one of the coaches, presented Chris Webb with a gift on behalf of all the coaches and said that without his (Webb's) efforts the school would never have got off the ground.

Mr Webb thanked everyone for their efforts over the year and said that without the help of the coaches, parents, and children they wouldn't have been able to achieve anything.

"When we began this school last year we were delighted when around 40 youngsters turned up to enrol. Now we have 130 on the books and I would like to thank the children and parents for making it such a fantastic success.

"I would also like to thank the sponsors who have played a big part in the development of the school," said Mr Webb. He thanked Alison Little for her work in helping to organise such a successful raffle and for St Austell Brewery and Skinner's Brewery for their sponsorship of the evening.

Thanks to the generosity of JB Sports, all the youngsters at the soccer school were presented with a mini England soccer ball and an England medal collection card.

It brought the curtain down on what had been a wonderfully entertaining evening for the budding soccer stars and ensured that the future of football in the city had something to look forward to under the enthusiasm and organisation of head coach Chris Webb and his soccer school coaches.