Minister puts the Clarets at top of league

Burnley Football Club played host to its second minister in the space of three weeks when Sports Minister Richard Caborn came to the town.

Clarets chairman Barry Kilby, former chairman Frank Teasdale, Burnley MP Peter Pike, council chief executive Andrew Watson, and John Hudson, regional director of the PFA, were all on hand to welcome the minister.

His visit came hot on the heels of Education Minister Charles Clarke, who visited Turf Moor to see the 'Playing For Success' facilities.

Mr Caborn was looking at Burnley's Community Programme, designed to encourage youngsters to get involved in sporting activities.

As part of the pioneering initiative a variety of activities including cheerleading, netball, badminton, cricket, basketball and football as well as guided history tours are now on offer at the club.

Mr Caborn was so impressed with Burnley's activities, he called on other football clubs in the country to follow in the town's footsteps.

The minister said: "This must be one of the best facilities in the country in terms of multi-sporting activities and I would like to see more of them.

"This is an asset to the community and we have got to use that in the best possible way."

He went on: "We have got to look at how we can involve the community not just in one sport but in multi-sporting activities and Burnley has done this.

"Other areas should look at what Burnley has done and learn from the good work that has already been done."

The minister was shown round the leisure centre to observe football coaching sessions and watched the cheerleaders in action before taking in a study support class at the Learn Direct Centre. Community and leisure manager Dean Ramsdale said: "It is more good news for the football club and leisure centre that Mr Caborn paid us a visit.

"It gave us a chance to show him what a good job we do at the club both in the local community and at the leisure centre and it's good that we've been shown the recognition on a national basis."