AN anti-racism video made by a team of Asian soccer players who want to become professionals is to be circulated to every Premier League and Football League club in England.

The Professional Footballers' Association has bought 200 copies of The Spirit, The Noise, The Colour made by Bank Top Rovers, Blackburn, to highlight the prejudice they have experienced when playing.

Former Blackburn Rovers player and PFA Chairman Gordon Taylor was so impressed by the video, produced with the help of Lancashire Social Services Bank Top Detached Youth Work Project, that he snapped up the copies to make sure that soccer bosses realise they are missing out on huge potential.

The youngsters involved in making the video were all being presented with a plaque by Blackburn Rovers FC at an anti-racism forum at Ewood Park today.

Home Secretary and Blackburn MP Jack Straw was a main speaker.

And this week the film got rave reviews when it was shown at the House of Commons. The Bank Top Rovers team, complete with player-manager Ali Hussain and substitutes went to Westminster with their video.

They told how the idea came when they were involved in a fight after racist taunting and found themselves expelled from the league.

But they are now back and are celebrating winning a seven-a-side title.

Mr Hussain, 21, from Montague Street, is delighted and hopes that this will show local clubs that Asians are good footballers.

Kamran Inayat, 22, of Granville Road, explained the motivation for the video: "We wanted to show things how they are. We all want to be professional footballers but there aren't any Asians who make it."

Hasmat Munghei, 19, of Leamington Road, said they were all determined to make it as soccer players and wanted everyone to know the prejudice they faced.

Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson was delighted with the video and said: "It's a splendid production. I hope it achieves what they want and helps them become professional soccer players."

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