CHURCH-going footie fans will get free beer if England win games at Euro 2000!

Members and guests of St Mary's Priory Club, Broadfield Drive, Chorley, will be able to buy a pint -- and receive a voucher -- before kick-off on a match day.

If England win, the voucher can be cashed in for two pints of beer.

The 'Win with England' scheme was the idea of Ricky Davies, of the Archdiocesan Clubs Management Services.

He said it was the best way of helping members enjoy the football while "promoting parish centres as number one venues to watch televised sport." He added: "We have a fair following of people who watch football in our parish centres. If the church is going to be linked to everyday life it is going to listen to people who want to celebrate. We had a similar promotion for the World Cup in 1998 called 'Score with England'."

As the name suggests, every time England scored members won beer.

And there are plans afoot for a new promotion for Premier League games. This could involve members guessing the scores of games, but as yet nothing has been finalised.

Thirty-six parish centres in the Archdiocese of Liverpool were selected to take part in the 'Win with England' promotion.

They were chosen because they already have an established football following and a big screen television.

Mr Davies said: "Adults have been celebrating with beer since time immemorial. If football and celebrating your country's success is important to the people then it's important to the Catholic Church."

The beer will flow as long as England survive in the competition.