A new junior sports supplement has scored a sales success for the Hull Daily Mail and East Riding Mail.

The twin Northcliffe titles have launched a 16-page Tuesday section, HotShots, devoted entirely to youth sport, and it is already proving popular, with an extra 1,500 copies sold on that day – an increase of two per cent.

Editor John Meehan said there was a massive market for youth sport in East Yorkshire with 11,000 youngsters regularly playing club football, rugby league and rugby union alone.

He said: “Several regional newspapers now publish midweek local sport sections but very few, if any, really concentrate on junior sport. HotShots does.

“We aim to provide an absolutely unbeatable ‘names and faces’ service of news, features, reports, pictures, scores, scorers, team line-ups and league tables.”

“We plan to highlight the successes of young stars-to-be, as well as the efforts of those who may not be as talented, but are equally committed to having fun and keeping fit through sport.

“The product is therefore a win-win – a great newspaper sales driver and also an excellent public service in encouraging youngsters to enjoy exercise and stay out of trouble through sport.”

The Mail has appointed trainee Philip Buckingham, specifically to bring together HotShots content.

Sports editor Stuart Rowson said there had been a huge response from clubs and leagues, with a centrespread “match of the day” report on a junior football or rugby game, including reaction from team managers and fans, proving to be a big hit.

He said: “We treat it like a Premiership game. The kids absolutely love it.”

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