AMMANFORD’S footballing youngsters have teamed up with Welsh footballing icon and former international striker John Hartson to take part in a new S4C series – which is a completely new approach to local football.

Codi Gôl, which starts on Sunday, May 15, to coincide with this summer’s European Championships, will see mums and dads of Ammanford junior football players compete against three teams made up of other parents from across Wales.

So, rather than listening to their parents’ shouts of encouragement and tactics, it is the children’s turn to show their support from the sidelines as the parents take to the pitch.

Each team will be managed by a former Wales international football star – ex-Arsenal, West Ham and Celtic striker John Hartson will take the reigns at Ammanford.

Hartson, who scored 14 goals during his 51 cap Wales career, is excited by the challenge ahead.

“I’ve always fancied being the manager of a football team,” he said, “but I would never have guessed that my first managerial job would be in Ammanford.

“The children and parents at Ammanford are full of passion and they are determined to win – there’s not too much of the modern football dramatics here, but there’s been plenty of entertainment off the field.”

The children meanwhile will be taking their place in the boardroom and making a number of key decisions alongside Hartson.

The youngsters will be getting round the table to choose their club’s colours, deciding what and who will be the mascot and the biggest decision of all – will they stick with their managers?

Taking up the whistle for the series will be Radio Wales presenter Eleri Sion, who will train as a referee before she dons the black uniform for the finals day.

After a few weeks of training, the teams, which also include parents from Amlwch, Ffostrasol and Pwllheli, will then compete against each other at Newtown’s Latham Park.

There is plenty at stake to ensure the parents stick to the tactics.

The winning team will then be jetting off during the Euros to represent Wales in a match against a team of parents from Brittany.

Codi Gôl kicks off on Sunday night at 8pm on S4C.