PLAYERS from a Bradford football club aimed at increasing Asian participation in the sport were given a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Wembley Stadium.

Shapla FC's under-14s team travelled down to the home of English football to take part in a national 16-team tournament.

Humayan Islam, co-founder of Shapla Football Club, says he hopes Wednesday's 'unbelievable' trip encourages more British-born Asian children to be inspired to take up football.

The squad of seven players, who took part in football's anti-racism group Kick It Out's five-a-side tournament, managed to get through their group stage but lost out in the final.

Kick It Out works within the football, educational and community sectors to challenge discrimination, encourage inclusive practices and work for positive change.

Shapla were one of 16 teams from across the UK invited to take part in the community day tournament, held at the Powerleague site in Wembley.

This was followed by a guided tour of Wembley Stadium for the Shapla squad, which included a trip in the dressing rooms and pitchside, ahead of today's FA Cup Final between Aston Villa and Arsenal.

Shapla provide free football sessions to around 100 Asian youths aged between four and 16 at the BEAP Community Sports hall every Saturday.

The club joined forces with Kick It Out, the Football Supporters' Federation, Bradford City and the West Riding County FA in February this year in an effort to promote the game among the city's ethnic minority communities and help create an inclusive football environment for all.

Kick It Out - through its Fans for Diversity campaign - and the supporters' federation has brokered the link-up between the other three organisations.

Mr Islam said: "It was an unbelievable day.

"The kids were quite gobsmacked when they took the tour of Wembley and learned about the history of football there.

"It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Hopefully now they will go back to Wembley in the future and support England when they play there.

"It was also a good way of encouraging British Asians to support England and visiting the home of English football helps that.

"It was amazing for the kids to play in the tournament. They did really well.

"It was a good networking event for the club as well to see how other clubs have developed and to learn things from them.

"The club has been going for the last two years. It's going really, really well. We have about 100 kids who play at our weekly sessions now.

"We want to keep this momentum going. It's not just about playing football but there is a lot of other opportunities in football.

"We also want to give a really positive feeling in the community."