Football boots? They are far to risky for... er, football

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Budding stars picked for the scheme, which is run by coaches from Championship side Charlton Athletic, have also had their trainers prohibited and are instead told to wear plimsolls during matches on grass pitches.

Bedonwell Primary School in South-East London, which hosts the course on behalf of the football club, sent a letter to parents stating: "Your child should have their school PE kit with plimsolls.

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Toeing the line: Catherine Turner with Bethan and her boots which failed 'safety rules'

"For health and safety reasons, children will not be allowed to wear trainers or football boots.'

Catherine Turner, 34, whose six-year-old daughter Bethan won a place on the scheme, said the school was "wrapping children in cotton wool".

"Bethan's godparents bought her some football boots in preparation for the course," she said.

"Bethan was very excited about it, but I received the letter telling me she would not be allowed to wear them for health and safety reasons. When I asked why, I was told the football boots could cause injury.

"It's just crazy - do you think Bobby Moore and the World Cup-winning team of 1966 had to put up with this?"

She added: "I was shocked to find that they are using a leather football - maybe a sponge ball would have been more appropriate."

The children, aged six and seven, trained on grass during five-a-side matches which were led by community coaches from Charlton Athletic, which has links with 75 schools in the area. But the football club claimed it had not heard of the health and safety restrictions.

A spokesman said: "All the children on our courses are required to wear football boots on grass but, if the school has its own regulations, we are happy to go along with them."

Sir Bobby Robson, the Former England manager and Mail on Sunday columnist, attacked the ban. He said: "The irony is that football boots are safer than plimsolls - they are designed to stop you slipping and sliding and turning on your ankle, which is a common injury."

A spokeswoman for Bedonwell Primary School said: "Our main concern was that the studs could cause injury to the children."