Football for people with disabilities in Tynedale has been boosted by a new partnership between two teams.

Hexham Football Club have teamed up with Hexham-based charity Gateway Into the Community.

Gateway’s CEO, Julia Ferguson said she was delighted with the new partnership.

“The Gladiators football team has linked in with Hexham Football Club. Our team is now wearing the Hexham colours, green and white, which is brilliant. All the teams at Hexham wear those colours, from the kids to the adults, and now our lads have them too.

“It’s really inclusive. We were invited up to the club’s presentation day on Saturday at Duke’s House and it was a lovely welcome and a lovely day.

“It’s really exciting for the future. We feel like we have a home for the football now and we’re looking at inviting other teams to come and play.”

The charity’s football team, Gateway Gladiators, will now wear the famous green and white hoops of Hexham FC. The team formed five years ago, and compete in the Newcastle Development League.

Julia added: “We’re quite well established. We have a really strong disability football team and we get coaching from the Newcastle United Foundation every week. We wanted to look to the next step, and this is good for us and the club.”