A £50,000 boost to take football to all sections of the community has been presented in Bury.

The money, from the Football Foundation, will employ a borough-wide football development officer to co-ordinate activities over the next three years.

The foundation is funded by the Premier League, the Football Association, Sports England and the Government and is dedicated to revitalising the grass roots of the game.

It aims to build modern facilities, develop football as a force for social cohesion and as a vehicle for education in communities. Among the courses it will pay for is a multi-cultural community football development programme, with coaching and education for local voluntary sports clubs. The money was presented by Lord Pendry, president of the Football Foundation, to the Mayor of Bury, Councillor Barry Briggs, during Saturday's match between Bury FC and Rushden & Diamonds.

The game also co-incided with national Black History Month and the annual Kick It Out anti-racism drive.

A range of partners drew up the football inclusion programme, including Bury Council for Voluntary Service. Saturday's game was also a big occasion for Prestwich lad Oliver Muir (11), who won a competition to become deputy mayor of Bury for the day.