Players from Accrington Stanley handed out replica shirts to year three students from 41 schools.

Children also had the opportunity to visit the ground and meet players and staff.

Through Accrington Stanley's partner for the event, Amazing Accrington, all pupils visiting the ground also received a goody bag with items donated by businesses and club sponsors.

All the schools attending had a class picture on the day, taken by Scott Dawson Advertising, inside the Eric Whalley iMEP-sponsored Family Stand.

Contributions towards the cost of coaches to transport all the schools were provided by Cllrs Loraine Cox and Peter Britcliffe from their Lancashire County Council Champions grants, plus Haworths Financial Services, Frasers Group and Oswaldtwistle Mills.

With the support of schools and businesses across Hyndburn, this programme has now given away almost 10,000 Accrington Stanley shirts and goodie bags.

Warren Eastham, commercial director of Accrington Stanley FC, said: "The shirt giveaway is certainly the best thing we can do as a club.

"It's fantastic to see local children come here enjoying the Wham Stadium, and getting a feel for a real professional football club.

"This event means that over the last few years, we've given out over 10,000 shirts. It'll be great to see the kids back here cheering on the Reds as soon as possible."

John Doolan, Accrington Stanley Manager, added: "This is a fantastic initiative that's been going on now for eight years.

"It's fantastic for the kids, and the community. You've got 41 primary schools that come along and you see over 1,200 kids, it's brilliant.

"The players give the shirts away to the kids, then they go around and get their picture taken. The smile that puts on their faces."

Eddy O'Brien, chief executive of iMEP (International Music Event Production), said: "As brand new sponsors of the Eric Whalley Family Stand, we are delighted to be involved in the big shirt giveaway for the first time.

"We have admired this initiative from afar for some time and as a local business we can't thank Andy Holt and Accrington Stanley enough for how much this means to the community."

Murray Dawson, managing director of Scott Dawson Advertising, said: "This is a very large project to get 1,239 primary school children to the ground on one day, but we want them to experience the Wham Stadium.

"It's a key part of our support with them to channel and arrange the day."