A charity has been praised by Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe for its work in getting young people to Show Racism The Red Card.

The Bradford South MP joined Bradford City legend John Hendrie and the club's assistant manager Wayne Jacobs to reward young people who took part in a racism awareness football tournament.

Bradford-based charity One In A Million, set up two years ago with the help of Mr Jacobs, has recently completed the 12-week racism awareness tournament - a nationwide effort running through the football league.

Mr Sutcliffe was joined by the former Bantams stars and another former professional footballer, Kieron Brady, to present the participants with their awards at the BantamsPast Museum at Valley Parade on Saturday.

Mr Sutcliffe said: "We have come here today to show how the power of football can help communities and bring people together.

"One In A Million is a great charity that does help people through sport, while Show Racism The Red Card is an educational programme that goes round the whole country bringing players and former players together with communities.

"It is a fantastic scheme for Bradford - and today shows how Bradford City is, as ever, involved in the community.

"And as a former Probation Minister I know what happens when people go off the rails and we try to catch them before that happens. One In A Million is therefore a very important charity."

The tournament, held at Grange Technology College's football pitch, in Haycliffe Lane, Bradford, aimed to bring children and young people from a range of backgrounds together to play football.

Matthew Band, trustee of the One In A Million charity, said the tournament had been a great success.

He said: "We get a good mix of white, black and Asian children coming along and we use football as a means of getting them together.

"One In A Million has been running for about the last two years and we have been working with young people mainly from the Canterbury estate in that time. I think the sport is very important for them - they seem to enjoy it.

"It is a means of bringing people together, it's almost something that just happens through the sport.

"The racism part, I think, is a very important message, particularly in Bradford."

Bradford College student Jamie McCluskey, 18, a captain of the under-18s, said the tournaments helped not only their football skills but had also changed some of their perceptions on race.

He said: "When we first started there were some white teams, some black teams and some Asian teams. As it has gone on we have all merged and just play together.

"If I see a player on the side line who doesn't have a team, if he's white, black or Asian, I say he can come on my team."

Jamie, who is now hoping to get involved with coaching the under-14s, said playing the five-a-side football had also made him think and play at a quicker pace.

The charity has also recently begun an athletics programme which is being rolled out in primary schools across Bradford.

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