BOLTON footballers are travelling to Bangladesh for a three week tournament.

Team members from Shahjalal Unity FC, a Bangladeshi football squad, will fly out on Friday and will spend three weeks playing semi-professional teams.

Coach Abdul Basit, who has organised the trip with the help of Smithills councillor, Richard Silvester, will be taking the team of 35 youngsters.

Mr Basit, who works as the community cohesion officer for Bolton Wanderers, said: "I have been playing for Shahjalal United for many years and as part of this tour we will play teams from all over the Greater Sylhet district and in Chittagong. Everyone is really excited about it and all the players have been training very hard.

"This trip isn't just about playing football. Many of the youngsters have never been to Bangladesh and this will be their first experience in a country where either their parents or grandparents originally came from."

Fundraising for the tour has involved an Asian sportsman's dinner last month, which raised £5,000 with guests including Bangladeshi professional boxer Abdul Rashid and racing driver Zuber Haque.

Cllr Silvester said: "Apart from myself all the other tour members are of Bangladeshi origin. I have been invited as an independent member and have been helping with the organisation.

"My role will involve chairing a daily team meeting while in Bangladesh and speaking on behalf of the team when we visit towns and villages."