CHEERLEADING isn’t all pompoms and swirly skirts, say Chester Roman Goddesses squad, who train in Frodsham and are currently looking for new members.

The ten-strong squad is one of many British cheerleading squads formed since the advent of American Football here in 1982.

Emma Pitt is the captain and coach of the enthusiastic squad who support the city’s team, Chester Romans, at home and away games.

She says the sport is: “Dancing with gymnastics – and a lot of weightlifting, too.”

Girls are thrown into the air and caught by team-mates in the Goddesses’ routines.

“Cheerleading is like a sporting discipline with real teamwork involved and it’s becoming a school PE sport now,” said 22-year-old Emma, a property operator for the Chester Chronicle, who started cheerleading for her university team in Aberystwyth.

She said: “I was dragged along by my flatmates and got hooked. It’s a very feminine thing because you can dance and do gymnastics without all the running around.

“It’s really good fun, and the social side of it is great, as you get to meet a lot of new people. I’m also a big American Football fan now!”

The Goddesses also compete in cheerleading competitions and for the past two years have come second in the regional finals of Future Cheer staged in Chester.

The squad has ten members aged between 15 and 28 and is on the lookout for new recruits, minimum age 14.

Training sessions are held every Sunday at Frodsham Leisure Centre from 2-4pm. For more details, drop in on a session or call Emma on 07734 924623.