A UNIQUE soccer academy could be established in Bury to nurture the talents of football-mad ethnic community youngsters.

And in the meantime, race relations bosses in the town will endeavour to get more Asians through the turnstiles of Bury FC.

Club chairman Mr Terry Robinson and Bury Racial Equality Council (BREC) director Mr Khalid Hussain have met with a Sport England chief who could pinpoint sources of vital funding for the soccer centre of excellence project.

The Shakers and BREC have joined forces to set up an anti-racism forum whose president is Bury North MP David Chaytor.

At Gigg Lane, Mr Robinson and Mr Hussain welcomed Sport England equal opportunities officer Mr Siraz Natha.

Mr Hussain explained: "We established the joint forum when we had the 'Kick Racists out of Football' campaign.

"Under the auspices of our anti-racism forum, we want to get more Asian youths from the area into the football club.

"Bury FC is in the heart of Redvales, yet hardly anyone among the ethnic community from that area goes to watch the club." Mr Hussain added: "Yet, all the lads play soccer in the Rochdale Road park. But the fact they're not going to watch Bury FC is a big problem.

"They perceive going to watch football as not an Asian type of thing because their forefathers didn't do it. We want to change that perception and outlook.

"We want to ensure that individuals and families from the ethnic community can go along for an enjoyable experience and won't be subject to any racism at matches."

The BREC director continued: "Secondly, we want to go ahead with some kind of project to establish a soccer academy for the ethnic community to come into the club to get professional coaching."

Mr Hussain says there are a number of talented Asian soccer players who could pass on their skills to youngsters.

"Hopefully, they would motivate those aged 10 onwards who, with the benefit of coaching, could have a chance of getting into Bury's first team."

Mr Hussain is confident that by working together, the anti-racism forum will identify funding for the project. Potential sources could be the National Lottery, Sport England, formerly the Sports Council, the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) and Sporting Equals.

"If we could get this academy up and running, then we could take youngsters from the street corners and provide them with coaching to ensure their talents aren't wasted."

Mr Hussain went on: "We care passionately about Bury FC and want to preserve this soccer tradition. Bury would be a far poorer place without the club."

The meeting with Sport England was designed to allow the forum to put forward its ideas and to seek methods of obtaining funding.

"Our ultimate aim is to look at ways of setting up the academy and getting more youths through the turnstiles," stressed Mr Hussain.

"There are around 10,000 Asians in Bury. And if we can get 50 per cent involved, then we'd be doing pretty well."

Initially, he hopes some kind of certification course can be set up to bring in a new breed of qualified soccer coaches to the town.

"Blackburn have done it. There are many Asian businesses in Bury who could support this."

Commenting on the talks with the Sport England representative, he concluded: "This was an exploratory meeting but one which was very positive."

Bury FC chairman Mr Robinson added: "We are constantly looking at all initiatives that will encourage and foster support for the club.

"And this plan, aimed at younger Asian children, will be both beneficial to their sporting development and encourage them to participate in following their club."

He added: "This type of arrangement will utilise the facilities at the club and, hopefully, develop a pool of talent which could be assessed for our centre of excellence suitability."