BOLTON-based Ambassadors in Sport will be sending a 20-strong football team to Japan for the World Cup -- but the lads are not going to take part in the games and they do not even have tickets to watch.

The group will be working with children in the towns and cities where the matches will be held, teaching them how to play like England stars David Beckham and Michael Owen.

Ambassadors in Sport is a church-based club which provides football training and coaching for boys and girls.

Through the year, from their base in the town, they get involved in community projects in prisons and schools and they run local youth leagues.

Each summer they link up with players from all over the world to coach soccer and play exhibition matches abroad. And when it's World Cup year -- where else in the world would they be?

Team coach, Ray Tucker, said: "It's great to be able to get together such a talented team who want to serve the communities that surround the World Cup festival."

The team is made up of players from Bolton, Essex, Cambridge, Holland, Spain and the USA.

The tour will centre around Tokyo. The boys are flying out from their respective countries today and they will meet up in Japan. They are due to fly back home on June 22.

For more information call Ray Tucker at Ambassadors in Sport on 363606 or Gillian Oliver at Church of England Press Office 0161 833 9521 ext. 210 or 07836 224444.