Dribbling and dummies are what you expect from a bunch of pre-schoolers. But seeing this lot on the pitch, a few of them could give Wayne Rooney a run for his money.

Except – and I am more shocked than anyone by this – their behaviour was a good few red cards away from his. In fact, Wayne is much more likely to end up on the naughty step.

Serious4Sport Summer camp is being held at Tugwell Playing Fields in Wantage.

The sessions, which span all the way to the end of the holidays on August 30, feature an almighty range of sports including athletics, tag rugby and quick cricket.

And many harrassed parents struggling to juggle commitments and summer childcare might be as delighted as me to hear sessions are just £20 for a full 9am to 5pm day. You even get a day free if you book a full week, it’s Ofsted-registered, CRB-approved and childcare vouchers are accepted.

Serious4Sport’s Saturday football classes in Wantage and Kidlington also run throughout the year, helping children aged 18 months up to seven years to learn not just football but, as I now know, much more. I joined coach James Hicks as he took some tiny tots through their paces at a taster session.

After they’d warmed up with a colour-coded cone squash and all followed the red traffic light order to assume the ‘stop position’ with a ball underfoot, they were off.

And I was amazed by some of the skills on show. Dominic Lee, who is 20 months old, for example, not only displays cup-final levels of cuteness but was able to kick a ball before he could talk. Now, put him in front of a football and he is a man on a mission.

One word from James, and Dominic was doing a slalom through the cones, timed perfectly for a swift, left-footed strike sending the ball into the back of the net.

“Yes, some are just natural footballers,” says James, who while proud and encouraging of this display was not as gobsmacked as me.

“Some are born with it, whereas others listen well – girls are better listeners! – and can become great players with practice.

“We’ve had some pupils go on to Wantage Town Juniors under-sevens (a partner of the Tugwell venue) and another who is now pro for West Ham. But whatever level children get to, it’s great to see them enjoying it. They’re learning without realising it: numbers, balance, colours, teamwork, discipline and, importantly, socialising with their mates on a Saturday.”

James, 26, and his best pal Tom Austin have a level of passion for sport which is inspiring, even (or perhaps especially) for a couch potato like me. James and Tom met at an Oxford United Football camp aged seven (“I can remember us playing each other – and trying to beat each other,” says James) and continued to be best schoolmates throughout their time at King Alfred’s, Wantage.

It is safe to say they have been inseparable ever since: James was Tom’s best man two weekends ago and Tom will return the favour next year. They graduated together with football studies degrees from Solent University and headed straight for education, with dreams of becoming PE teachers...

“But we spent so much time stuck doing paperwork rather than being out with the kids it started to get frustrating,” says James.

“We went into this to get kids excited about sport, but finding that primary sports education is often less about being outside than boxes getting ticked, meant a rethink.”

After working for various private children’s sports providers, the sports-obsessed pair (James, an Everton fan, is a racquet sport nut and semi-pro squash player at Hithercroft in Wallingford while Tom, a Spurs fan, is a semi-pro footballer for Wantage Town FC) decided to go it alone in 2010, winning contracts at nurseries including all four branches of the Oxford Nursery.

As well as these, the pair offer PPA cover for teachers at primary schools across the county – taking the strain off teachers while they take the children outside to let off steam playing sport.

No wonder parents can’t get enough of it. “My five-year-old Logan loves football and now has the best ball control I’ve seen in a child,” says proud mum Rainbow.

And, watching the serene and sunny youngsters doing keepie-uppies and half-volleys in the sunshine, I’m just a bit jealous that, at my age, I’m a bit too past it to come off the bench and join in.

  • Serious4 Sport runs Saturday football sessions for children aged 18 months to seven years-old in Wantage and Kidlington.
  • The summer multi-sports camp runs all holiday at Tugwell Playing Fields, Lark Hill, Wantage, OX12 8PJ.
  • Book for a half-day (£10) or full-day (£20) If you book a whole week, you get one of those days free.
  • Visit serious4sport.co.uk