ENGLAND soccer legend Trevor Brooking kicked-off a new era in sporting excellence in Bolton when he officially opened a school's brand new £3m sports centre.

The former West Ham star was guest of honour at Smithills School's Sports Centre grand opening day yesterday where he was flanked by young sporting hopefuls from schools across Bolton who had all come to see the new facilities.

The four-year project, the brainchild of Smithills deputy heads Ken Howells and Chris Roberts, received more than £2m in funding from Sport England.

And Mr Brooking, who is president of the organisation, said he was only too pleased to be in town and he hoped the facilities would help create some of the sports stars of the future for Bolton.

After wishing Bolton Wanderers the best of luck in tomorrow's play-offs Mr Brooking officially unveiled the plaque opening the sports centre.

"It's a great day to be opening an indoor sports centre," joked Mr Brooking on a gloriously sunny afternoon. "The facilities here are wonderful and they should be a real benefit to the whole community.

"Sport has suffered from such underinvestment in recent years that youngsters haven't even been given a chance to show what they can do. With centres such as this hopefully that will change."