View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
November 13, 2003updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Football Idol

By Press Gazette

The Western Daily Press and Bristol City FC are creating a football version of television’s Pop Idol.

More than 80 youngsters from across the West Country are bidding to win a place at the Bristol City football academy for three years.

Called Shooting Star, it is the brainchild of Western Daily Press editor Terry Manners and Bristol City chief executive Colin Sexstone.

Sponsored by airline FlyBE, the competition aims to find the top young footballing talent living within the Western Daily Press circulation area.

Every boy who applies will be invited for a trial where their skills will be judged by coaches before about 40 are invited back for more intensive trials. They will then be whittled down to 15 finalists.

“We have had applications from across the region from Wiltshire to South Wales and from Dorset to Gloucestershire,” said Wendy Best, special projects editor at the Western Daily Press.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network