A YOKER football team has achieved success after a tough start to the season.

Yoker Athletic 2011's were crowned East Renfrewshire Soccer Development Association (ERSDA) Group D Split League champions.

They also lifted the division's League Cup. It comes after the team were left with no coach and just five players as the season got ready to kick off last August.

And Margaret Ann McKenna, secretary of the club, explained the difficult start the team had to the campaign.

"After the previous coach left, myself and Caroline Buchanan, another mum, spoke to the remaining boys and asked them ‘what do you want to do?’" she said.

Glasgow Times: "They wanted to keep going so we decided we would try our best to keep the team running.

"The let on Mountblow Park was kept on so the boys could just play football.

"We explained to the parents of the remaining kids about the situation and they were happy for them to just play with their friends.

"We then tried to get players. My son who goes to Clydebank High spoke to his friends, and we then got enough players together to have a team."

After getting enough boys together to form a side, and enlisting the help from Alan Spiers and Alan Milnine who are part of Yoker's academy to get players registered, the club also recruited two new coaches.

Adam Gourman and Robbie MacDonald have been in charge of the team since late last year.

And they have overseen a turnaround in fortunes which has led to the club winning a double.

"The kids are absolutely thriving and loving it. The team spirit is great. We have come a long way in a short period of time," Margaret Ann continued. 

"The coaches have been brilliant as well. We are very big on creating a safe environment for the boys to train and play.

"We do not tolerate bad conduct and it lets the boys just focus on their football.

"The parents of all the boys have been really supportive. It is really a family environment and everyone gets on."