RESIDENTS from a nursing home in Selkirk are now guaranteed front-row seats for the football.

Riverside Healthcare Centre has supplied the town’s junior football club with match balls.

And in return the age-group defenders and strikers will play matches on the nursing home’s lawns.

The multi-generational tie up was concluded on Friday with the arrival of 18 match balls, emblazoned with the Selkirk FC and Riverside emblems.

Ian Stephen, chair of Selkirk Junior Football Club, told us: “We are all delighted that Riverside Healthcare Centre is supporting youth football in the town.

“We are always appreciative when sponsors come forward to help but it extra special when you can bring the oldest and the youngest generations together through their love of football.

“A few of the teams will come down during the summer to play five-a-side games at Riverside and hopefully entertain the residents.”

Kyle Pearson, Riley Lightfoot, Euan Beattie and Zander Wishart from Selkirk’s Under 10s and Under 11s collected the match balls on Friday from the residents.

Around 80 young footballers currently play in the carious age-groups at Yarrow Park, ranging from four- to 16-year-olds.

The £200 donation from Riverside for match balls is just the latest local company to back the junior club, which operates teams up to Under 16s.

Matt Fuels, Ozkans Grill, The Filling Station, Border Safeguard, Game & Country, and J & D Kerr have all sponsored players’ jackets.

The club’s strip sponsors are Bankend Services, Selkirk Rotary Club, Mister Singh's, RP Adam, JGM Services, and Brown and Muir

Mr Stephen added: “We are indebted to all of our sponsors – without them we wouldn’t be able to keep the club going.”