Ian Ormondroyd has been in his job as Football in the Community Officer at Valley Parade for six years now.

And he has seen plenty of change in that time, but the greatest difference has come in his workload over the past year.

The 41-year-old former City striker said: "In the last 12 months our work has increased by 50 per cent, and I now have three full-time staff - Kim Farrand, Paul Jubb and Daniel Gaudiosi - and five

part-timers, who are practically full-time,

working under me.

"In an average week we visit 50 to 60 schools in sessions that are linked to the national curriculum, where a year ago we were probably only doing about 30 schools."

Ormondroyd added: "Bradford & Bingley plc have given us three cars through a sponsorship deal, and we basically cover the Bradford Metropolitan district, although we also do Skipton, which is in North Yorkshire.

"Our work is mainly in primary schools, of which there are 159 in Bradford, although we do occasional work in secondary schools.

"And we get involved with school sports

co-ordinators and partnership development managers who cover certain areas of the city.

"We meet them every couple of months, and Tim Leigh helps us to organise

primary schools leagues.

"And we do holiday courses, where the numbers have grown from 500 six months ago to 800 or 900 now."

Former Villa, Leicester, Derby and Oldham forward Ormondroyd says it is important the schemes are affordable and open to everyone. He said: "We encourage girls, ethnic minorities and the disabled - we cover the whole spectrum and have

courses that cater for them all.

"It doesn't matter if we have four or five really good kids in a group and the rest are beginners - we can work with whatever standards there are.

"There are no barriers in terms of ability and we try and keep it cheap - £10 for a five-hour course."

City's Football in the Community scheme is self-funding at the moment, although that might change if commercial manager Peter Etherington has anything to do with it.

All this activity is a marked change from what has happened in the past at City, Ormondroyd confessed.

"It is true that the previous regime did neglect the junior coaching side of things but we are getting it sorted out."

Among the incentives for youngsters at City home matches at the moment is free entry for under-11s if accompanied by a paying adult.

"We are taking this to various primary schools, and also under-11s can get what amounts to a free season ticket if they become members on the production of two passport-sized photos," said Ormondroyd.

Further information is available from Ian on 01274-706850 or 01274-307564.