A SQUAD of footballers from Ringwood are riding high after earning the respect of football teams across the south.

The Stable Home Family Trust |football team – whose players are all residents at the home for people with learning difficulties in Bisterne - received a clutch of cups at the Fairplay Award at the Newquay Sevens Tournament.

And the captain of the team, James Meekers, 30, won a Man of the Match award.

He said: “I am so happy that we did so well. We had an absolutely brilliant time.

“I only started playing football two years ago and love it. I scored three goals in a penalty shoot out and all my friends and the team were very proud.”

Eight sides from around the UK and Eire competed in the seven-a-side |competition, and the lads from the Bisterne-based organisation were the only ones with learning disabilities, said David Mawinski, the trust’s day services manager.

The team and three “rolling reserves” took on sides with names like Limerick Celtic and the Bad Boys, and scored a hit.

Top scorer for the Bisterne-based side was Julian Pilditch with three goals, followed by Anthony Baker with one and captain James with a penalty.

John King also performed well, |heading clear a goalward-bound ball from an opposing side.

“We’re going to do the same next year,” predicted confident team-mate, Peter Westman.