MORE than 120 youngsters will descend on Kelty this weekend to have their own shot at bringing football home.

The home of the village's newly promoted Lowland League club will play host to the hotly-anticipated Coalfields Home Football Internationals, where teams from Scotland, England and Wales will go head-to-head, on Sunday.

For the past 10 years, the annual tournament has been hosted by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT), which supports local initiatives to improve the health and employment prospects of those from former mining communities across the UK.

Four teams – boys sides from Lochgelly and Bannockburn's Milton Rovers, as well as girls' duo Boroughmuir and Central Girls – will represent Scotland after winning their places in the final at the Coalfields Community Cup, held earlier this year at Alloa Athletic's Indodrill Stadium.

Last year, a Kelty Hearts under-16 squad qualified for the home internationals, played in Wrexham, after seeing off Tynecastle in the Community Cup final.

The Scots' only previous success in the competition came two years previously, when it was also played in Wales, but the West Fife contingent played their part as they took home the trophy with a win over the Welsh Dragons.

Nicky Wilson, CRT trustee, commented: "We're thrilled that the Home Internationals this year are being hosted in Scotland. We've had a phenomenal build up to this day, with tournaments being hosted up and down the country to ensure the nations put their best teams forward.

"Young people are the future of our communities and are crucial to their regeneration. All the participants in this Sunday's event are winners in our eyes and we look forward to hosting our biggest international games yet this weekend."

Youngsters travelling from England and Wales will have the chance to visit the home grounds of Manchester City and Heart of Midlothian ahead of the tournament, in which a traditional pipe band will play each country's anthem before the games.

As well as bringing mining communities together to offer those taking part the chance to compete competitively, make friends from across the country and have fun, a walking football exhibition is also expected to feature on the day.

The CRT are encouraging people from the local community to support the event and tickets, which are free, are available from New Central Park from Saturday.