BURY-based football club FC United is top of the league when it comes to showing how teams should work with the community, according to a leading Goverment minister.

MP Andy Burnham, secretary of state for culture, media and sport, visited Gigg Lane on January 17 to watch the reds beat Prescot Cables 2-0.

Though he supports Everton, Mr Burnham is a huge fan of clubs like FC United, which is owned by its fans, who vote on major issues like admission prices and sponsorship, and elect a board to run the club day to day.

Included in the club’s manifesto is a pledge to work with charities — it is a keen backer of Prestwich-based Medequip4 kids — and to develop strong community links.

Volunteer coaches also run regular coaching sessions across Greater Manchester.

Mr Burnham said: “I enjoyed the match and congratulate FC United on their victory.

“Both myself and my parliamentary colleague David Chaytor, MP for Bury North, were impressed with the standard of football on the pitch and the passion of the fans off it.

“FC United has shown how fans can defy the odds and set up and run a genuine, democratic, community based club. As a co-founder of fans’ group Supporters Direct, these are values that I back.

“I know FC United will continue to show football how supporter owned clubs can be a force for good in the modern game.”