STAR pupil Laura Stanworth is helping to kick racism out of soccer -- and has been given an award for her efforts.

Laura, aged 14, entered a national competition which asked secondary school pupils to research issues surrounding black footballers and to write a mock interview.

Laura, a Year Nine pupil at Thornleigh Salesian College, came second in the competition, beating more than 2,000 other children.

She was inspired by England's first international black player, Viv Anderson, who visited the Astley Bridge school last October as part of an awareness campaign.

The competition was organised by the Let's Kick Racism Out of Football campaign.

Laura's winning entry was designed as a newspaper article and focused on the life of 1960s Leeds legend South African Albert Johanneson.

As part of her prize, she was treated to a VIP trip to a Wanderers match, where she sat with sports journalists, and she will to receive an England football kit.

Laura, from Lostock, said: "I chose to study Albert Johanneson because I found the most information about him.

"Before I wrote the report, I didn't realise how bad racism was in football, so it has been very useful."

Nine other Thornleigh girl pupils were awarded highly commended certificates.

Denise Heavey, head of religious education, said: "We are very proud of Laura, who also won our in-school competition, and think her winning entry is outstanding.

"The Kick Racism Out of Football Campaign ties in with our coverage of racism topics within religious education and Laura's success has certainly made us think about entering again next year."

Campaign manager Alison Vaughan said: "Between 400 and 500 schools took part and we received well over 2,000 entries, which were all of a very high standard.

"The amount of effort Laura had put in was phenomenal, the language was very good and her design was original.

"We were very impressed by the piece."