A SCHOOL football team is ready to hammer home a message against the exploitation of children - and score a few goals along the way.

The team, from St Mary's Primary School, Edale Road, Deane, became the first school side in the country to be given a Fairtrade approved football when Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce dropped in for a special assembly.

The ball was supplied by Bolton Fairtrade Campaign and was bought from Fair Deal Footballs which offers a guarantee that all balls have each of their 690 stitches made by adults working in good conditions and not by children working in sweatshops.

Each ball carries the slogans "Fair Pay - Fair Play" and "No Child Labour".

Youngsters from the school will now embark on their new season with the ball, and are hoping the visit from Big Sam can help inspire them to the same heights enjoyed by the Whites so far this campaign.

After dropping in to present the ball and answering questions on Brian Clough and the England manager's job, the Whites boss said he was delighted to help deliver the message to the school.

"If this allows the kids in these countries to get a proper education or to get out and start playing football, then it's a great thing," he said.

"It's good for the kids to have a new ball but the message is the most important thing."

Headteacher Chris Kislby said: "We take our sport here very seriously and wanted to get involved in Fairtrade.

"We've spoken to the children about Fairtrade and, although it's hard for some of the younger ones to understand, the older pupils are getting the idea."

Team captain Paddy Brady, aged 10, said: "There's not only footballs that are Fairtrade but other things like coffee and chocolate.

"We know that this ball hasn't been made by other children."