ROB Hunt and Zeki Fryers offered a helping hand to the next generation of footballing stars ahead of kick-off against Coventry City on Saturday by fine-tuning some youngsters’ skills at the Swindon Football Festival.

The first-team pair joined Swindon Town Football in the Community staff to deliver a skills session mixed with fun on the newly installed astro turf behind the County Ground’s Arkell’s Stand.

Organised by the Wiltshire County FA, the session was attended by 98 youngsters aged between 12 and 14 with particular focus on teamwork, shooting and passing.

Swindon Town manager Richie Wellens told the Adver that fans should expect further community engagement this season, including the appearance of players in the newly introduced fanzone – which will take place for the first time on Saturday, August 10, ahead of Town’s League Two clash against Carlisle from 1pm.

Wellens said: “This stuff will be happening on a weekly basis.

“Obviously it won’t be players that are starting the game.

“But if we have a squad of 20 and two players miss out on the 18 then those two players will be sent out to the fanzone to interact with the supporters.

“We want to establish that connection with the supporters and allow it to continue to grow.

“Kids look up to football players, they look up to managers and coaches too.

“If two or three of our lads can go there and hit a nerve with some of the young kids and allow them to enjoy it, then we’ll have kids aspiring to be like players they are spending time with before games.

“That’s half the job done.”