The Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey took to a football pitch in Wiltshire to boost an initiative which hopes to divert youngsters away from anti-social behaviour.

He visited the Wiltshire FA headquarters, in Devizes, on Friday, January 31 and after a quick change from his suit to the Wiltshire kit, he was out on the field with Melksham and Devizes MP Brian Mathew.

A few goals later, and Sir Ed took a break on the sidelines for interviews, telling the Local Democracy Reporter that the youngsters “were running rings” around him.

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He said: “I think I was showing my age.

“They were very patient, they didn’t push me over.”

The 'Roots and Shoots' youth initiative is held on Friday evenings at Green Lane Playing Fields and offers football coaching and other activities to help build young people’s confidence.

Devizes Police are involved in the scheme and hope it will improve young people's health and wellbeing.

Sir Ed described the work as “absolutely fantastic”.

He said: “It’s the sort of partnership that can really turn people’s lives around, give them new opportunities, show them a different way, and that benefits that young person, their family, and the wider community.”

Sir Ed Davey posing on the sidelines. (Image: Jessica Moriarty)

MP Brian Mathew agreed: “It’s a project that should go from strength to strength.

“Outside, there is a knife bin, and we’ve heard from police that something like 100 knives have been put in there over time, including a pistol.”

The executive headteacher of Devizes School and Melksham Oak Community School, David Cooper, explained that seven of the boys on the pitch were his pupils.

He said: “It’s an opportunity for them to get some positive and constructive experiences outside of school.”

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Sir Ed Davey and MP Brian Mathew speaking to Wiltshire FA Chief Executive Simon Russell. (Image: Jessica Moriarty) Looking forward to local elections, Sir Ed noted: “We’re not taking anything for granted, we’ve got a lot of work to do.

“We’ve got to knock on doors, talk to people, earn their trust, show we’ve got a different set of ideas.”

The leader of the Liberal Democrats on Wiltshire Council, Cllr Ian Thorn, was also at Wiltshire FA, ready to take Sir Ed to meet some of the local Lib Dem candidates.

Cllr Thorn said: “I think it’s an opportunity to talk about some of the issues in Wiltshire, which he and Brian will take back to Westminster.”

After a friendly penalty shoot-out, the politicians left the football to the teens.

The 'Roots and Shoots' programme is supported by Wiltshire FA, Wiltshire Police, local businesses and sports coaches.