THE Welsh Football Association (FAW) is offering 800 youngsters across north Wales the chance to get involved with the nation’s favourite game for free.

More than 800 spaces are available for children across the region to try football for the first time at sessions aimed at introducing children aged four to 16 to the sport regardless of gender or disability.

The sessions run throughout April and May and will be available at The New Saints FC, based in Oswestry, among a list of other clubs.

The Fun Football sessions are part of the new four-year deal between McDonald’s and the FAW, which together with the English, Northern Irish and Scottish FAs, will see the restaurant company provide over 5 million hours of football to children by 2022.

Through these Fun Football Providers, over 500,000 children will have the chance to play football for the first time in 2019.

The Fun Football curriculum will include introductory drills perfect for children with no footballing experience, helping them develop their all-round skills.

There will also be a Fun Football Activity Book enabling those children aged between five and eight to chart their progress with a series of stickers and creative games available to order from the McDonald’s Fun Football website.

CEO of the FAW Trust Neil Ward, said: “We want children all across Wales to fall in love with football.

“The Fun Football sessions are a great opportunity to get started in the game and we are thrilled that these are offered free of charge – a huge help to parents.

“Children will be introduced to skills and drills in a fun and safe environment.”

McDonald’s CEO, UK and Ireland, Paul Pomroy said: “As a proud dad of two football mad children, I know how important it is to encourage a lifelong love of sport and an active lifestyle.

“Through our Fun Football programme, we want to provide over 5 million hours of football for children, introducing more than half a million new players to the game by 2022.”

Parents are asked to visit www.funfootball.cymru to find their nearest sessions.

Other Fun Football providers in north Wales are as follows: Airbus UK Broughton Football, Caernarfon Town FC, The Racecourse Community Foundation, Kick It Sports (Colwyn Bay), Bangor Community Sports, McGuinness football coaching (Prestatyn), Llandudno Football Club in the Community, Brickfield Rangers (Wrexham), Bala Town FC, Port yn y Gymuned (Gwynedd).