COME and talk to us is the enticing message being issued to football clubs from Jim Kenyon, company secretary of the Lancashire Football Association.

"There is money available to clubs through all sorts of grants, especially the Football Foundation. Never before have such levels of financial assistance been readily accessible.

"If clubs have their own ground or a long term lease there is much that can be done for them. I can tell a club representative after less half a dozen questions what grants are available to them and which not.

"Once it is started off right we stand a very good chance of getting there. The best advice I can give at the moment is Don't be shy of coming forward to ask!

Assistance

One club in this region which will back Jim to the hilt in that statement is Astley Bridge Juniors who this week announced the procurement of no less than £94,674 financial assistance from the Football Foundation to improve their Stapleton Avenue facility.

Vice chairman of the club Bernard Toland explains: "We were moved off Union Road onto Stapleton four years ago when we had a like-for-like arrangement through Bolton Metro.

"The changing rooms were first class but immediately the winter weather set in it was obvious that the whole drainage system under the pitches had collapsed.

"We had a superb facility that we couldn,t used from October through to March because it was waterlogged. It was heartbreaking.

"We began to pursue a lottery grant and that was very complicated indeed. Eventually we got directed to the Football Foundation, Jim Kenyon got involved and John Shepley from Bolton Leisure Services and it really began to motor along.

"The grant we have just got is absolutely fantastic. Work is set to start at the end of October and will go on for the rest of this season.

"The schedule is that we will be able to stage Mini Soccer games at the start of next season and just after Christmas 2002 we aim to once again have eleven-a-side games on Stapleton Avenue."

Jim Kenyon can be contacted at the LFA Leyland headquarters on 01772 624000.