TREVOR Brooking is delighted that another major championship is coming to Manchester.

Brooking, the FA's Director of Football Development, was speaking at the launch of the build-up to the 2004 Partially Sighted World Championships to be held at Manchester's Velodrome, supported by the M.E.N.

The former England international believes Manchester is the perfect location for the 12-nation tournament and cannot wait for it to begin in December.

"The National Cycling Centre is a great setting," he said. "I was up at the Commonwealth Games and the Manchester people did us proud. The backing they gave for that was unbelievable.

"To have a big championships here and for the players to perform in front of their own crowd is going to be terrific."

Brooking hopes the tournament will increase the profile of disabled sport in the UK.

He added: "I hope that the role models who play for the Partially Sighted team will inspire disabled people young and old to get involved, and that the legacy of hosting the World Championships will be felt positively for years to come.

"What we're looking for is to give everyone in this country the opportunity through coaches and facilities to access just a fun experience initially and then to get on to whatever level they need to get on."

Brooking wants the government to pump more money into all sport to enhance the already successful schemes in place.

He said: "We've got some great schemes across the country and the actual results are fantastic. In schools where we have invested not only has the quality and fitness of youngsters increased but academic results have gone up as well.

"But the schemes are so fragmented. The time is right for the decision makers to invest in sport."

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