BURNLEY Football Club is to get £233,200 from the Government so older men can score with the latest computer and communications technology.

Ministers reckon there is more chance of making adult fans take to the latest gadgetry at Turf Moor than in conventional college surroundings.

The money is part of a national £2.3million project to test unusual ways of getting mature people to join the technology revolution.

The cash from the Department for Education and Employment is split between 13 projects aimed at widening access to new technology.

The new Adult Learning Centre at Burnley Football Club will enable state-of-the-art technology to encourage men to try their hand at Information and Communications Technologies.

Professional mentors will be on hand to support older workers and the unemployed to improve their skills.

The 13 newly announced schemes are the pilot phase of a £252million initiative to provide 700 new Information and Communications Technology Learning Centres.

As well as soccer clubs, the new equipment will be on tap in some pubs and special mobile units.

The aim is to bring new technology closer to those in need and to help bridge the gap between the computer haves and have-nots.

New research showed that while 71 per cent of those in work had used a computer, only 32 per cent of the jobless had done so, while 52 per cent of working people had a computer at home against just 23 per cent of the unemployed. While 94 per cent of men aged 25 to 54 in the top three social groupings - A, B and C - had used a computer, only nine per cent of women aged 55 plus in lower socio-economic groupings had done so.

Announcing the grants, Learning and Technology Minister Michael Wills said: "While new technology can offer great opportunities, there is also a danger that many will not be able to take advantage of them.

"When Information and Communications Technology skills are a 'must have' for most job applicants, it is essential that we reach out to provide everyone with the skills needed to help them into those jobs.

"That is why we are investing £252 million to bring ICT to people's doorsteps. These centres will help bridge the digital divide."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.