ANTON Ferdinand is proud to be spearheading an impressive new training facility for budding young footballers.

The Ferdinand Football Group is based in Billericay but also runs sessions throughout south-east Essex.

And the former Southend United skipper is keen to make a difference to the local community.

“This is for everyone and it’s something I’m really passionate about,” said Ferdinand.

“I don’t want to walk down Billericay high-street and have people say oh he used to play for West Ham or Southend.

"I’d rather they said I’m doing great things for the community because that means more to me than anything.

"I always wanted to be involved in something like this but I wanted to wait until I retired so I could really play a proper part and that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

But the training sessions are about more than just football for Ferdinand.

“We’re here to help the parents create good human beings,” said the 36-year-old.

“That’s what football did for me, along with my parents and the people around me. It helped me to respect people and to become a people person.

“It also showed me you have to work hard if you’re going to achieve anything. The ethos here is based on that and that it should be everyone’s game.

"It’s a safe haven for everyone, boys, girls, different religions, colours and sexual orientations.”

And Ferdinand’s new project was also inspired by his mother Janice, who passed away in July 2017.

“This is about my mum’s legacy and to be able to do this in the community I live in is great,” said Ferdinand.

“My mum was someone who loved to help people.

"The week that she died more than 1,000 people came to see her and the hospital had never seen anything like it.

"The majority of people from our estate, some I hadn’t seen for years, all came to see her in her bed.

"This is about her too and her legacy.

"When Rio and I sat down in the chapel of rest we said mum always had time for people and that’s stuck with me.

"It’s a grieving mechanism for me that I’m doing something my mum would be very, very proud of.”

For more details visit ferdinandfootballgroup.co.uk