MARS launch successful

Kieron Dyer, Jonathan Spector, Walter Lopez and Freddie Sears joined a host of famous faces in launching a new community initiative.

The Multi-Sports Access and Retention Scheme (MARS) is a community development project designed to engage Newham residents in Olympic and Paralympics sport. The scheme is a proactive partnership between West Ham United Community Sports Trust, the London Borough of Newham and the Premier League/PFA Community Fund to provide £300,000 of funding over the next three years.

The West Ham quartet were joined by coaches from the West Ham United Community Sports Trust and children from local schools as they demonstrated their all-round sporting ability. Spector showed his skills on the basketball court, Sears played tennis, Lopez took part in a football skills workshop and Dyer oversaw running exercises with the children.

"I think this is a great initiative that the club are backing. I don't know about the children here having fun, I know I certainly did," England international Dyer said.

"It was great to see them being able to try different sports and enjoy what they were doing and who knows who we might have unearthed for the future. Everyone benefits from schemes like these and it is good to be part of it here today."