MOST parents rue the day their offspring become fashion victims - but the latest trend for brightly coloured football boots is saving a Fylde coach's sanity.

Eleven-year-old twins Daniel and Chris Dickinson are so identical that the only way to tell them apart is by looking at their fancy footwear.

And as if that's not enough, footy coach Neil Thornber has to contend with twin eight-year-olds Ben and Rick Seear playing 'doubles' in his under-nines team.

Neil, pictured with both sets of twins, says the Seears are so alike they even have the same teeth missing - and when they get their matching kits on, it's enough to drive him daft.

He said: "It's double trouble! It's more like playing spot the difference than playing football! And I'm going to have to play it for a bit longer until I work out the minor differences that will tell them apart.

"I just hope there are some! The Seears twins are both strikers but with them, I have to wait until one of them scores.

"When the goal goes in, Ben punches the air if it's his but Rick does a dance routine. Then I know who has put it in the net."

Practice at the YMCA playing fields in St Annes proved to be such a headache that Neil told the youngsters to turn up in different shirts for the sessions.

And all four youngsters have attended Neil's summer soccer school during the holidays and all are equally talented, too.

He said: "I have tried to spot the difference, but the football season starts in the first week in September and I know it will be harder when they are wearing their kit.

"It's one of those rare occasions when, as a parent myself, I am grateful that youngsters are fashion victims.

"Daniel has red boots and Chris's are blue, so I just have to keep my eye on their feet.

"I've still been caught out once or twice, shouting things like "shoot, Rick", when he hasn't even got the ball."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.