The Bristol Evening Post is inviting budding young footballers to take part in a once-in-a-lifetime competition that could make their dreams come true.

The Post, and sister paper the Western Daily Press, have teamed up with City to launch the Bristol City FC Junior Academy Chance of a Lifetime competition.

The aim is to give expert football coaching to 150 boys and girls aged six to eight.

A small number of those who show outstanding ability and attitude could be asked to join the Junior Academy for the rest of the summer.

Bristol City youth coach Pete Coleman said he was looking forward to this year's Junior Academy.

"It's a great opportunity for the kids to have some contact and have a good time," he said.

"The main purpose is to have fun. It's for boys and girls so last year was a pretty revolutionary idea and it went so well that we wanted to do it again this year.

"The coaches we have at the academy are outstanding and we wanted to give them the chance to work with younger players.

"We will play small-sided games but will learn new skills and healthy lifestyles and the importance of water and fruit. It's a little bit of education we pass on to our main players. We hope the children will pick up some habits that they will benefit from.

"We feel it is part of our duty as the only academy in the South West to go and coach other kids and broaden the base."

Bristol City Academy, on Beggar Bush Lane, Abbots Leigh, is believed to be the first in the country to offer the opportunity of an academy experience to children of such a young age group.

There are 50 places guaranteed for Evening Post readers, 50 for the Western Daily Press and 50 will be awarded at the discretion of Bristol City FC academy coaches.

The youngsters will be trained by a professional team of academy coaches with experience of working with children of this age and who are trained in child protection.

The young footballers will join a skills development group during May and the emphasis will be on playing small-sided games and learning new skills.

They will also try the academy's healthy lifestyle programme.

A small number who show outstanding ability and attitude will then be asked to join the Junior Academy for the rest of the summer.

Bristol City is keen to underline its commitment to finding and nurturing local talent, and wants to forge even stronger links with young footballers in the area.

Last year's trials were such a success that many of the 300 seven to nine-year-old boys and girls who took part in the trials and were not successful to enter the academy itself persuaded Bristol City to run after-school coaching sessions that began this year.

The success of these coaching sessions, held on a Friday evening at the City Academy in Easton, has come to the attention of the FA.

Last month, John Allpress, former England Under-16 football team and current national player development coach for the seven-to-16 age group, visited a session.

Pete added: "There is a tremendous amount of talent in the area and we want to support the youngsters. Because of Bristol City's success over the years, outside clubs are taking us seriously.

"Clubs are coming in to see the boys and girls, but we want them to attach themselves to their local club. In the past, people have looked on the South West as an area where there isn't a high standard.

"I can assure you that the standard here is as good as anywhere else in the country."

Academy manager John Clayton said he was also looking forward to seeing another group of children receive expert football training.

"We are all really, really excited about this," John said.

"I was in Holland in the late 1980s and they were all playing in teams by the time they were five years old.

"Pete came up with the idea - he's the driving force behind it and has a lot of exciting plans and the chairman is really excited too."

Bristol City's Academy has nurtured many young footballers such as Leroy Lita and Liam Rosenior who have gone on to play for Premiership clubs.

John added: "We once again want to give all the kids a chance to fulfil their dreams. We play to the highest level of youth football and to very high standards, playing teams like Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs.

"This is not just about us finding players. We are very much part of the community and want to put something back into it and give the kids the chance to be coached by top coaches.

"We want them to have the Bristol City FC experience and if we find some players - that will be an added bonus."

For more information, pick up a copy of the Bristol Evening Post or Western Daily Press. Alternatively click here.