OFFICIALS at the Bolton, Bury and District League are hoping their Macron Under-21s League can be a stepping stone to more projects to keep young people in the sport.

The league kicked off with the Mossbank FC against Mace match at Atherton Collieries recently and even though the result may not have worked out in favour with a 3-1 defeat, BBDFL secretary and Mossbank club chairman Gary Russell insists it was a historic day for the league.

He said: "It was a curtain-raiser for the new league season where we have 8,000 kids taking part in the sport from aged Under-7s to U21s.

"We had Kevin Davies down to do the tossing of the coin and then Lancashire FA's Dave Burgess were there to celebrate the event.

"There were 115 spectators watching on and it was great to see so many people there.

"It was great to see the league up in action as Warren (Barlow) has been trying to get this established for years.

"In the past 12 months it has come to fruition thanks to the support and help of the Lancashire FA too."

Russell admitted that Barlow and Wanderers legend Kevin Davies had been the driving force behind the scheme.

But there are no signs of the league not trying to keep developing and improving opportunities to play the sport.

Russell said: "We don't stand still otherwise you will get the same old, same old football and we won't do that.

"Last year, we brought in the futsal competition and the summer league.

"This one is the u21s league then we are looking at developing girls football.

"We just want to give them a platform to play and be the best footballers that they can be."

There will be a landmark game too on October 3 when Bolton University field their two teams in the competition.

Bolton Falcons will take on Mace while the second team face Hindley Juniors.

Along with Mossbank that takes the Bolton involvement in the competition to three of the 10 sides.

But Russell believes the area's participation will increase next year.

He said: "We have a strong u17s league next year and a lot are from Bolton.

"We hope that three-quarters of them will move up to the u21s.

"We are hoping to see it grow with 20 teams next year after the interest we have had from other sides.

"Our idea is to develop the kids who have come through our league and get them ready for adult football.

"Some of them finish with us aged 18 then go straight to Sunday league and get kicked around the park and then give up.

"We don't want to have that and hopefully they can learn in our pathway."

Russell believes things are looking bright for the league.

He said: "We are wanting to introduce adults to the Bolton and Bury League from the u21s.

"It is part to our two or three year strategy and we know that a few clubs would be interested in joining it.

"We think it is a massive step forward but it is still early days."