Manchester City Football Club (MCFC) has been officially handed the keys to its new 'City in the Community' hub at East Manchester Academy, Beswick.

Pupils at the academy will be provided two after-school coaching sessions per week, in addition to free Community Soccer Schools for boys and girls during holiday periods. Badminton, table tennis and volleyball sessions will also be held as part of MCFC's PL4Sport initiative, while three enterprise days are to be held for each year from 2011.

MCFC chief executive Garry Cook said: "Our City in the Community staff will be working closely with the new Year 7 intake on a daily basis, and Manchester City Ladies FC and our Academy scholars will train here every week. "We are very proud to take this next step with such an exciting school, confirming our commitment as a key neighbour to our local East Manchester community, as well as the Greater Manchester region."