FOOTBALL fans in Bolton can help support young players by opening a savings account.

Bolton Wanderers is the latest club to cash in on fans' loyalty by launching its own affinity savings accounts.

Wanderers joined forces with the Furness Building Society to launch the Bolton Wanderers savings accounts before the game against Portsmouth.

Savers open an account with the building society and every year a donation equivalent to one per cent of the total balance in all the accounts will go to the Wanderers Academy.

Rob Cairns, chief executive of the Furness Building Society, said: "By opening a Bolton Wanderers savings account, not only will a supporter earn a good rate of interest but they will be helping with the development of young players.

"This is a win-win situation for Bolton Wanderers and their supporters."

Gareth Moores, Wanderers commercial director said: "We are delighted to have teamed up with the society to help supporters boost their savings.

"Young savers can benefit with the Junior Whites Saver Account and we also have the Superwhites Saver Account for adult supporters.

"We hope supporters will take advantage of these two great ways to start saving. They will also help the development of the BWFC Academy, which will aid the long-term development of players for the first team."

Football club savings accounts are growing in popularity. Many clubs offer them, often through building societies.

Britannia Building Society has launched affinity accounts with Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Everton, Sunderland and Manchester United, while Bristol City operates a similar account with the Bristol and West.

Rachel Thrussell, head of savings at Moneyfacts.co.uk, said: "Although interest rates on these accounts are not as high as some online savings accounts, most have rates which do compete with other branch-based savings products, especially when the one per cent donation to the club is taken into account."