Albion in the Community has launched a unique initiative aimed at young dads and expectant fathers.
Using the power of football, Touchline Dads creates a welcoming environment as a platform to focus on the parenting skills of the young dads.
Currently in a six-week pilot period, Touchline Dads has been backed and funded by the local NHS and council groups including probation and youth offending services.
The initiative, if successful, will develop and spread across the region - and after just two weeks participant John Barley is already hailing the scheme a success.
He told seagulls.co.uk, "My little boy, Taylor, is three now, but his mother had him before we met. He was one by the time I met his mum; but it was such a scary thing to go through.
"Even though I wasn't there for the birth or anything, I came into his life as a stepdad, and I was petrified because I was conscious about whether or not I was doing the right job.
"I hear things from my dad, stepdad and other family members telling me to try this and that, but now I'm here to try my own methods.
"The people involved with this initiative are giving me great advice, suggesting different ways to solve different situations.
"When I first came here I was so nervous, but if you have a few people in the same situation as you then it's great.
"We're all sitting there in the same boat, and after a while we started talking, laughing and getting on well, so we've all gelled now."
Albion in the Community's lead coach and sports education officer Luke Tyler organised the initiative.
He told, "The aim is to try and get to as many young dads as we can. We are targeting split families to help make them aware of how important a dad's role is with children.
"We want to give them the opportunity to say what they want to say and not be embarrassed to ask. Maybe one of them doesn't know how to change a nappy, and they can't say in front of their partner.
"These are the kind of skills they don't have to feel embarrassed about here, it's all lads and they are all going through it at the same time."
