FOR the first time in decades, school football has returned to Heddon.

Pupils at the village’s St Andrew’s First School lined up for the first of a series of games involving the Ponteland Partnership of Schools, two teams playing against their neighbours at Ponteland First School.

The mixed gender 7-a-side team played a game each this week, and it is hoped the friendlies will act as a catalyst in starting a competitive league between the local schools in the next academic year. The games have been organised by the Morpeth and Ponteland School Sport Programme.

Damien Dimmick, of the programme, said: “It’s the start of something good at the schools, and it is great to see the enthusiasm of the children and parents. Lynda in the office has worked there for 31 years and said she can’t ever remember Heddon having a football team!”