THE Archbishop of York offered his prayers to Bolton Wanderers during a visit to the Macron Stadium.

Dr John Sentamu was welcomed by the club's Chaplin Phil Mason, the Bishop of Bolton Chris Edmondson, and the Bishop of Manchester David Walker, before being taken on a tour of the ground and hearing about the club's work in the community.

During his walk onto the pitch he knelt down to touch the turf before being presented with a special shirt from the club, sales of which will raise funds for armed forces charity Blesma.

He then met members of the Community Trust project — and donated towards former player Tony Kelly's sponsored walk from Liverpool to Bolton ahead of Wanderers' game tomorrow.

The tour was part of Dr Sentamu's two-day visit to the Manchester Diocese where he also met with members of the Hope Centre in Johnson Fold and Befriending Refugees and Asylum Seekers (BRASS) in Great Lever.

He said: "I have been welcomed here so warmly – the club has given me a shirt which I will treasure dearly.

"It is not the first time the thoughts of the club have been with me. I remember praying for Fabrice Muamba in Swahili when he collapsed.

"To stand where he used to play and touch the pitch has brought back some wonderful memories about the news of his recovery."