A BID to help young footballers continue to hit the back of the net has been launched.

Dunbar United set up an under-20s side last year to provide a pathway to the club’s first team.

As well as playing weekly in the Scottish Lowlands Development Football League, nine of the youngsters have made the step up to be involved in the senior squad on matchdays.

Stuart Robertson, from the New Countess Park team, felt that the addition of the under-20s to the club’s set-up had proven worthwhile.

He said: “If you look back to last season, round about this time things started to fall apart on the park.

“Lack of personnel was one of the major issues.

“Now, we have got 40 players to pick from, not just 20 first team players but 20 in the under-20s, who love to have any opportunity.

“They have often shone on the park, which has been great.”

The young Seasiders have enjoyed a number of promising results this season.

Robertson continued: “However, as we continue to build our under-20s, we have been struggling to find a company or companies to sponsor our players’ home and away kit.

“The running cost of the under-20s is fairly significant (many thousands) due to the costs associated with pitch hire for both training and games, referee costs, kit costs and travel costs to our away games, which take the boys the length and breadth of the country.

“We are setting up a GoFundMe to try and raise shirt sponsorship for the lads’ kit under the name of ‘Dunbar United Supporters Club’.”

Already, more than £1,600 has been raised.

Mr Robertson was “chuffed” with the success of the fundraiser and said: “Given they have gone a year without a sponsor, I did not want that to go on any longer.

“Given how much our crowds have grown, we are getting more than 300 people, many talk up the under-20s.”

To make a donation, go to gofundme.com/f/dunbar-united-fc-under-20s-shirt-sponsorship