CLARETS star Clarke Carlisle is urging youngsters in Burnley to enter a contest which could put them on the road to Wembley.

The big centre half took a training session with youngsters at Barden Primary School to encourage boys and girls to enter teams in the regional heat of npower’s Kids Cup, a national competition involving all 72 Football League clubs.

Local teams will battle it out for a chance to represent Burnley in the national competition.

And the two finalists will meet at Wembley before the Football League play-off finals next May.

Clarke said: “Playing at Wembley has been the highlight of my career and you’ve got to start out somewhere.

“But probably more important is the benefit of getting youngsters playing football in schools and enjoying physical activity, so I’m right behind this.

“There were certainly some good little players at Barden and hopefully other schools in the Burnley area will also get involved.”

In addition to activity at local clubs, Sky Sports’ newest presenter Ben Shepherd will be launching the national competitions later this month, encouraging children and schools nationwide to sign up.

Greg Clarke, chairman of the Football League, said: “The npower Football League Kids Cup and Girls Cup are fantastic ways of encouraging schoolchildren to take part in competitive sport as well as offering them the chance of a lifetime to play in front of thousands of fans.”