Axminster Town Football Club are putting their faith in youth to build a sustainable future.

The club already have the most extensive youth section in local football with ten teams from Under Six to Under 15, several of which play in local leagues, all with qualified coaches.

And the club has now taken the decision to add Under 16s and Under 18s teams to their set-up. The Under 18 team will be managed by former Axminster player Sam Dibling , who already runs the Under 13 team.

Next season the Under 13s, under Dibling's supervision, will be competing in the Europa Cup, an indication of the cub's ambition with the youngsters getting the chance to play in the iconic Park des Princes, the home of one of the most famous professional clubs in the world, Paris St Germain.

The young players are busy fundraising to meet the costs of competing in the tournament. They are looking to raise the entry fee of £1,200. Some of them are raising money by cycling the 358 miles, the distance from Axminster to Paris, on exercise bikes at Tesco.

A number of Axminster youth team players train with the Exeter City Academy and one former player, Tyler Dibling, Sam's son, has signed professional forms for Southanpton and is considered to be a great prospect.

The Axminster first team play in the South Western Peninsular League, the highest standard in the club's long history. Honiton, Sidmouth and Ottery St Mary also have teams in this league and it's common knowledge that to achieve any success they have to recruit players who are paid.

It is rumoured that one East Devon club (not Axminster) are paying out £750 a week. That sort of money requires a generous benefactor or lucrative sponsorship arrangements. And it does not necessarily deliver success.

Axminster manager Dan Prettejohn has done an excellent job in recruiting a number of talented players from around the area, including centre-back Chris McGrath, son of former Manchester United and Ireland defender Paul McGrath, Josh Wadham, who used to be on Exeter City's book, and Jamie Price, who has also played at a much higher standard. To succeed in the South West Peninsular League you need players of this calibre.

The Tigers made a great start to the season but have slumped in recent weeks, having gone six fixtures without a win.

Fulfilling the gap for the over 14s

The thinking behind the development of the youth operation is clear. Youngsters are not permitted to play adult football until they are 16 and therefore it is necessary to fill the gap from Under 15s until they are eligible to play for the senior teams.

By developing an Under 18 squad, who will play in a midweek floodlit league, they will produce players who can perform at a higher standard.

Axminster also run a "Wild Cats" initiative, sponsored by Weetabix to introduce young girls to football.

Axminster also field a Reserve team which is currently struggling in the Premier division of the Devon and Exeter league and a ladies' side which is in second place in the Devon Ladies League.

Behind the scenes, Axminster have an industrious and committed team of volunteers who work hard fundraising and running the Tiger Way complex. Few weeks pass without them organizing an event.

I'm given to understand that funds raised by the staging of various events are not used to pay players at Axminster. That cost is borne by sponsorship deals.

Axminster already have some of the best facilities in the South West but further development will be necessary to continue their progression.

In a recent match programme, chairman Andy Hurford urged Axminster Town Council to get behind the club to help them extend the facilities at Tiger Way. Top of the list will be the addition of a hard standing area, a grandstand, floodlight and refreshment area on the second pitch as well as a 60 x 40 metre floodlit 4G training area.

Club ambassador and commercial manager Ray Self, the driving force behind the move from Sector Lane to Tiger Way, has set up meetings with the Devon Football Association and the Football Foundation to kick-start their plans.

Self is also in discussion with local businesses to increase sponsorship and board advertising at Tiger Way.

Both the first team and Reserves' games were washed out at the weekend by the tail-end of Storm Eunice.

This coming Saturday the first team will away to Stoke Gabriel and Torbay Police who are bottom of the division. The Reserves will be at home to neighbours Colyton (kick-off 3pm).