WESTBURY Football Club, based at Wellington Barracks, off Bolton Road in Bury, are about to undertake a temporary and large scale exodus from the Bury area by participating in a football tournament in Valkenburg, in Holland.

The club currently runs football teams at all levels, from the under-seven age group right through to an open age senior football team.

On May 25 the club embarks on its first European tour, to play competition football at many of the junior age levels against similarly aged opposition from Holland, Belgium and Germany.

For many of the boys -- and their families -- it will be a once in a lifetime experience.

The costs of the trip for the 180 people who will be travelling are not insignificant and have been met mainly by parental contribution, offset only by the fund-raising activities of the individual teams involved.

The under-10 team, for example, organised two initiatives: a sponsored run, and a bag-packing initiative at Tesco in Bury, from where the tour party will both depart and arrive.

The support of Tesco, the Bury Times and other sponsors to this important community initiative, has been much appreciated.

The Bury Times will also be covering the success of the event on the club's return.

No doubt that the trip will form a big part of the conversations at the club's end of season presentation to be held at Radcliffe Borough on June 8.

In addition to the presentation, Westbury FC have been offered the use of Radcliffe Borough's astroturf pitches, where the boys and girls will also be able to let off some necessary steam!

Players old and new are invited to the evening and further details are available from club chairman, Andy Ward, on 0161 764 7194.