SIX teenage tearaways yesterday proved how they have turned their lives around through sport.

The former troublemakers have all been expelled from school for bad behaviour including fighting, vandalism, not respecting teachers and playing truant.

But since September the group has knuckled down to work on a B-Tec Sports and Leisure course at Meadowbrook College, a school which only accepts children who have been excluded and is based in different spots around the county.

Yesterday, the 15 and 16-year-olds saw teams from the army and Thames Valley Police compete in a football tournament at Oxford City Football Club's ground which they had spent three weeks organising.

The tournament in Headington raised £75 for Sports Relief and represented a huge turnaround for Ollie Axtell, PJ Saunders, Liam Keys, James Dyer, Simon Salaman and Chris Perry.

PJ, 16, from Wood Farm Road, in Barton, was expelled from Peers School, in Littlemore, for fighting last year.

He said: "I am proud because we managed to achieve something. Lots of people wrote me off, but this proves how I have changed."

Ollie, 16, from Woodlands Park, Radley, said: "It went quite well apart from us getting knocked out of the tournament. I think everyone enjoyed it.

"I do feel quite proud we made it happen - now I am helping people and helping myself.

"Since I started the course I have not been getting in as much trouble and I have calmed down a lot."

Simon Salaman, 16, from Boxhill Road, Abingdon, said: "I have grown up now. I am not so cheeky and I have cut down smoking weed as well."

The group meets for one day a week at Oxford City Football Club's ground in Marsh Lane, in Marston, and spends mornings studying and afternoons playing sport.

The teenagers had contacted players, organised fixtures, booked pitches, baked cakes and swept floors in the run-up to the five-a-side tournament, which included nine teams.

Darren Davies, the club's community development officer, who has been working with the teenagers, said: "From coming in thinking about what mischief they could cause they are now very protective of the club and proud to represent the club."

The boys' teacher Keely Ewart-Brookes said: "They were very difficult to teach when they first arrived. Trying to get them to do academic work was very difficult.

"They really have begun to change their thinking. They are much more focused, they are much more humorous and their self confidence has soared.

"If you had asked them in September if they could organise a football tournament they would have laughed or said: 'Why should I, I cannot be bothered'.

"They should be really proud of themselves."