A title set up to boost coverage of junior football by a regional publisher has celebrated a subscription milestone.

Reach plc’s Kick N Mix, an online newsletter, has announced it has reached 20,000 subscribers nine months after its launch.

HTFP reported in February how the free weekly newsletter had been set up to cover the sport from pre-school to teenage level.

The publication is the brainchild of Mat Kendrick, Reach’s deputy managing editor for sport and self-confessed ‘Football Dad’.

He told HTFP: “I have a great passion for the grassroots game and I wanted to see how we could cover it digitally.

“When I was playing junior football – a long, long time ago – our local paper would carry round-ups and if you’d scored a goal your parents, auntie, nan and everyone would get a copy to see your name in the paper.

“I’m not sure that’s ever been properly replicated online, so a free weekly email newsletter seemed a good way to go about it.

“It’s a UK-wide, Reach-wide offering so obviously we can’t carry thousands of results and goalscorers’ names every week.

“What we can do is debate the big issues in kids’ football, celebrate the unsung heroes and try to replicate that sense of community.”

In recent months, Kick N Mix has tackled topics including challenging racism, teenage suicide, homophobic abuse, foodbanks, heart screening and defibrillators.

Mat added: “There’s also been interviews with former stars including David James, advice on how clubs can get grants and what to do when academies scout your players.

“We’re so proud to have got to 20,000 subscribers – it just goes to show that there is a big interest in kids’ football and we’re determined to keep kicking on.”