FORMER Saddlers' boss, Jan Sorensen was back at the Banks's Stadium to launch the Soccer Buddy range of unique and innovative products that will be used by our youth team and also on sale from the Club Shop.

Based locally, Soccer Buddy International Ltd. is primarily dedicated to grass-roots football development. Their training mannequins are produced in a range of sizes specifically aimed at youth football. "It's no good asking a kid who is eight or nine years of age to practice with a six-foot plus mannequin," said Sorensen, who has been Soccer Buddy Sales and Marketing Director for the past three months and works closely with Managing Director, Julez Broomes and Director, Greta Allen. "The beauty of this product is that the size can be tailored to the particular age group.

"It can be used as a training tool by junior clubs and, more importantly, is perfectly safe for the kids.

"It's a new concept and we are currently getting involved with a lot of clubs up and down the country. We are very excited about the project and it's nice for me to come back to Walsall and get the club involved.

"They are in good company as we now have 25% of the Premier League clubs on board and are also in discussions with JJB Sports.

"We have also developed a Soccer Buddy that records shooting speed. This can be used not only as a training device but also as a means by which clubs can raise funds by charging people to use it."

As well as the training mannequin's, the club will also be stocking a range of other Soccer Buddy products, all resplendent in the new Walsall FC kit, in the Club Shop. "We have desk and autograph buddies which can be displayed in children's bedrooms or on your desk at work," added the former Denmark International midfielder. "They come with a marker pen so you can get your favourite players' autograph and keep it on display rather than hidden in a drawer.

"I'm sure that these will become collectors' items as will the Soccer Buddy clock, which is a nice gift idea and something different."

Sorensen was at The Saddlers' helm in 1997/98 when he guided the club to three exciting Cup adventures. "I was only here for a year, but I had a fantastic time," he said with a smile. "I thoroughly enjoyed the experience; we had some memorable Cup matches and I brought a lot of money into the club from these Cup runs.

"I would put our poor League form down to the fact that we had a small squad and the number of games that we played eventually took its toll on us.

"Jeff Bonser runs a clever financial ship here and that is by no means a bad thing."

During Sorensen's tenure, the club enjoyed an FA Cup fourth round trip to Manchester United as well as beating both Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United to make it into the fourth round of the Carling Cup. We also came within a whisker of making our first-ever appearance at Wembley Stadium as we lost in the Area Final of the Auto Windscreens Shield to AFC Bournemouth over two legs. "The Manchester United game was a great experience for everyone involved," continued Sorensen. "But I look back on games such as the one at Macclesfield Town when we won 7-1 and coming from behind to beat Peterborough to set up the trip to Old Trafford.

"There were also memorable home games such as the ones against Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United when we scored late winners to really get Bescot Stadium rocking.

"We had some talented players; Roger Boli and Jeff Peron were easy for me to work with because I had experience of dealing with that type of player during my time on the continent. They were not as straightforward as the English lads but did a great job for us. Jimmy Walker was a class act in goal and I feel that if he had left the club earlier he could have easily established himself as a regular in the top-flight.

"Then there was Johnny Hodge, a real character and an extrovert figure who the fans loved.

"One of my best players was Dean Keates, he was a great little midfielder who was so committed and strong.

"After leaving Walsall I went back to Denmark for three years to manage a club called Hvidovre IF who were owned by Peter Schmeichel. That was a fun time for me but I came back to England and spent four years as a Director of a ceramic company before joining Soccer Buddy earlier this year."

So, would Sorensen ever consider a return to football management? "When you have been involved in football for as long as I have there is always the burning desire to stay in the game," he added. "I would never rule it out, but I know that I will always be connected to the game in some way.

"I still go back to one of my old clubs, FC Twente, and watch players for them. In fact, of all my former clubs, FC Twente and Walsall are the only two that I still monitor the progress of. I'm more like a Saddlers' fan these days as I still live locally and occasionally log-on to the website to check-out the latest news. I want the team to do well and will be hoping that 2008/09 will bring plenty of success for Jimmy Mullen and the players."

For further information about Soccer Buddy, go to www.soccerbuddy.co.uk. Prices are, as follows:

* Soccer Buddy (4') - £59.99

* Soccer Buddy Clock (585mm) - £16.95

* Soccer Buddy Clock (900mm) - £28.95

* Desk Buddy (including stand and pen) (306mm) - £5.95

* Autograph Buddy (including stand and pen) (445mm) - £8.95

* Autograph Buddy (including stand and pen) (585mm) - £11.95

Check out the Banks's Stadium Club Shop or The Football Shop in Walsall Town Centre to see for yourself.