CHESTER City FC fans are livid a city school is encouraging its pupils to support arch-rivals Wrexham.

Children at Newton Primary School last week took home invitations to attend Wrexham FC's last home game, against Boston, on Saturday, May 5.

The result could determine the league fate of Chester's primary opponents.

Parent and City season-ticket holder Stephen Davies, of Hoole, is bemused.

He said: 'I thought to myself, where are we? Have we moved to Wrexham?

'Chester City need our support badly and I don't want my son, a Chester fan, being encouraged to go to our main rivals.'

Newton headteacher Mark Griffiths, a self-confessed Wrexham fan, has been along to every Racecourse game this season.

He said: 'This is organised by Football 4 Your Community and they've done two coaching sessions after school for our infants and juniors each week on a Monday and Thursday.

'They're an independent group, but if the coaches had been linked to Chester City FC we would have gone to their games.

'At the bottom of this, we would like to encourage all local teams.' Football 4 Your Community used to be affiliated to Chester City FC but coaches split with the club.

Wrexham FC community officer mark Morris said he could not condone F4YC going into the heart of Chester to recruit fans.

richard.down@cheshirenews.co.uk

Club expresses disappointment

CHESTER City FC staff are disheartened youngsters are being enticed from the club.

Danny Jones, of Chester's Centre of Excellence, started up the club's Football in Your Community scheme seven months ago after its association with Football 4 Your Community ended.

He said: 'We're obviously disappointed some children are being encouraged to go to Wrexham when Chester is their local club.

'We asked Newton if they wanted to get involved in our scheme but they said thanks but no thanks.

'But hopefully our own scheme will raise awareness of this club for children in the community.'

This week children from Boughton St Paul's Infant School enjoyed a day out at Bumpers Lane as part of Mr Jones's programme.