OSWALDTWISTLE Rangers JFC has become one of just 60 clubs in Lancashire to be awarded the coveted Football Association Charter Standard.

The club was started in 1999 by a small group of boys and parents and has increased now to more than 100 registered players with teams from Under Eights upwards as well as a girls team.

The club has worked hard for the award and has a close relationship with Burnley and Blackburn Rovers and some of its players have had trials with them as well as Man United and Liverpool.

Club chairman Steve Lowes admitted: "The award is a recognition that the football club is being run to a high standard of commitment and integrity.

"Team managers and assistants have to undergo coaching, emergency first aid and child protection training and all volunteers with access to the children are undergoing clearance by the CRB."

The are club now looking to go further, adding better facilities and training opportunities for the players - they are on the hunt for sponsors to help them do this although have got various events lined up to take the next step.

"Fundraising is absolutely vital," continued the chairman. "This year we will have our annual football tournament, soccer schools, a Sportsman's Dinner, a Golf Day and a Grand Prize Draw but we still need to raise more."

From its start, Oswaldtwistle Rangers JFC has always stressed that football is about fun - winning is great but enjoyment is most important.

Paul Cunliffe and Neil Wolstenholme helped start it all six years ago, managing an Under Nine's team with a group of about 20 boys meeting up every Monday.

They were originally known as Ossy St Mary's and their first competitive match in the Accrington and District Junior League was in September 1999 against Oswaldtwistle Juniors which they won 5-0.

They went on to finish fourth in the league and won the first of many Team of the Year Award's for Sportsmanship.

The year after a new Under Nine's was formed and the other lads moved up an age group.

Over the first four years every team but one won the league's Sportsmanship award.

They changed their name to Oswaldtwistle Rangers in July 2001 and enjoyed a successful season.

Not only did all three teams win the Sportsmanship award again, but the Under 10s were crowned league champions, the Under Nines were runners-up in their league and the Under 11s came a creditable third in their first season as an 11-a-side team.

But perhaps the most outstanding accolade for the club was the award of the Dave Smith Memorial Trophy - given to the club for its attempts to play the game the way it should be played. It was the first time the league had made the award.

The 2002/2003 season was another eventful one. The Under Nines, Under 10s and Under 12s got the Sportmanship awards again while the Under 11s came second. Jack Cook won another Player of the Season award and, overall, the Under 10s finished runners-up in their league and the Under 12s were runners-up in the Consolation Cup.

The Dave Smith Memorial Award was retained by Ossy Rangers but was awarded to Paul Cunliffe, the Under 12s manager, for his four successive year in achieving the Sportsmanship award with an Ossy Rangers team.

Last year saw the formation of the club's first girls team. They play in the North Valley Friendly League and the club has also added an Under Eights side to that league, giving the club almost 100 registered players.

The success on the field was a cup runners-up for the Under 10s and a third consecutive Player of the Season award for Jack Cook. And, in keeping with the general theme of the club, the Under 11s got another Sportsmanship award.

For more information or to get involved with Ossy Rangers look at www.ossyrangers.freeserve.co.uk .

The club has attracted a number of local and national sponsors including Buy The House Estate Agents and Cheshire Building Society and marketing agency LBM. They are on the lookout for more and anyone interested can contact the club via their web-site.