The Somer Valley FM Sports Show has launched a campaign to help Radstock Town Manager, Lloyd Edgell, achieve his Level 2 Coaching Badge.

Lloyd was formally announced as Manager at the beginning of December, following a dreadful November for the Miners, both on and off the field. Player walkouts and heavy defeats left Radstock fearing for their Western League Premier Division survival, yet Lloyd's first full month in charge turned around the ailing club's fortunes, registering two wins, a draw and only one narrow defeat over the Christmas period.

Lloyd, a former soldier, has been associated with Radstock Town for eighteen years, representing the club at Under-18, Reserve and First Team level. At 25, Lloyd is one of the youngest Managers in the Western League and, whilst his commitment to the cause cannot be questioned, he has taken on the mantle of Manager without any formal coaching qualifications.

The Somerset Football Association have confirmed that for a Coach like Lloyd, who is working with an adult team, it is also possible to bypass the Level 1 qualification, which is aimed at Coaches working with younger players, and go straight on to the Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Football.

The Level 2 course is a 75-hour course, requiring Coaches to complete twelve sessions with their own team, produce session plans and complete an assessed 35-minute training session. The course will cost Radstock Town, a Charter Standard Club, £200 and Somer Valley FM Sports Show Presenter, Ian Nockolds, has called for listeners to support Lloyd and sponsor the course fee.

Ian said: "Cometh the hour, cometh the man. In Radstock's darkest hour, Lloyd was the man to step up to the challenge of managing the side through this difficult period. He's already got off to a great start, but we can do something to help Lloyd on his journey as a fledgling Manager."

Anyone interested in sponsoring Lloyd can contact Simon Wilkinson, Radstock Town Secretary, at: [email protected]">[email protected] or call: 07557 276619. Alternatively, potential sponsors can contact Somer Valley Sports Show host, Ian Nockolds, on: 01761 408165 or by emailing: [email protected]">[email protected]

Broadcasting online, 97.5 Somer Valley FM is the community radio station serving the people of Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Radstock and the surrounding villages.