FORMED to keep local youngsters out of trouble, Johnson Fold are gunning for their second successive title in the Bolton Sunday League this season.

The team, which has an average age of just 20, was formed by Jordan Hacking and his friend Westley Tomkinson in 2005 to give a focus to youths on the Johnson Fold estate.

They finished a creditable sixth in their inaugural campaign, gained promotion to Division One last season and have won five out of five this term.

They have added a new dimension to the league, and Hacking, only 20 himself, is pleased with the way things have progressed for the team that play their home games at Moss Bank Park.

“We are doing well on the pitch and showing that we are not just a bunch of kids – we are good players,” said Hacking.

“Twelve of the 18-man squad are all from the Johnson Fold council estate and most of us used to play for the local youth club.

“However, that stopped and we started getting into trouble. We would go out every Friday and Saturday night and get drunk for no real reason.

“Now we keep it low key at weekends because we have a match on the Sunday. It has given everyone a focus and something to do.

“We all look forward to playing and it has stopped people getting into trouble.

“We are a council estate team, not a pub team, and we have up to 40 people supporting us each week. It’s good for the community.”

One of Johnson Fold’s headline grabbers is 25-year-old striker Andrew Buckley, who has scored an amazing 17 goals in five games. The team also have one of the best disciplinary records in the league and have not lost for 17 matches.

Promotion to the Premier Division beckons if the lads can hold their form and Hacking, who plays on the left wing, said: “It would be great to go up again.

“We have a lot of games in hand on the top teams and we are confident in our ability to get another promotion.”