"We're building a whole foundation for the club!" Melton Town launching youth and veteran teams

Melton Town are launching three new teams next season as they bid to give youngsters a pathway from junior football to the first team - and beyond.

The Reds will see new under 23 and under 21s sides kick off, as well as a veterans team.

"We've just signed a deal with Brooksby College to have a 23s play at our place, called Melton Town under 23s," first team manager Tom Manship explained.

"They're in a proper, competitive uni league with Crystal Palace Foundation, Hull City Foundation - some big clubs."We've also got a brand new 21s which is going to go into the same league as Rushden & Diamonds under 21s and Nuneaton under 21s.

"We're building a whole foundation for the club. We want the best local talent to stay in the area and hopefully come through our pathway."

Manship cited young first-teamer Will Bestwick - also on the books of Grantham Town Academy - as an example of the sort of talent the club wants to keep exclusively at Sign Right Park in future seasons.

The new veterans set-up will compete on Sundays, allowing the older generation the chance to still get their kicks.