Burnley striker Marvin Sordell and former Blackburn Rovers ace Howard Gayle were at Turf Moor to speak to schoolchildren as part of an anti-racism campaign.

Sordell and Gayle were joined by Burnley youth trio Waqas Azam, Lewis Norvock and the Libyan-born Hamam El-Fitouri at the ‘Show Racism The Red Card’ event.

Pupils from Lomeshaye Junior School, St John the Baptist RC Primary School and Springfield Community Primary School took part in a question and answer session with the quintet to learn about the importance of diversity and the dangers of racism.

The children had previously watched a video featuring anti-racism messages from the likes of Didier Drogba, Ryan Giggs, former Blackburn Rovers trio Jason Roberts, Leon Best and DJ Campbell, as well as ex-Burnley loan player Nathan Delfouneso.

Gayle, who played for Rovers between 1987 and 1992 and previously represented Liverpool, spoke about problems he had encountered during his career.

Following the event, Show Racism the Red Card (SRtRC) asked the young people to create a newspaper style report of the event. Ged Grebby, chief executive of SRtRC said: “The educational events with football clubs are one of the highlights of our work.

“It is brilliant to be able to continue this season’s programme of events with Burnley FC.

“The club were the first professional team to get behind our campaign.

“SRtRC is aiming to work with 50 football clubs during the 2014-15 season on events like this in England alone.”

The educational events at football clubs allow young people to experience a first-hand interaction with anti-racism role models in the form of professional footballers and spend time thinking critically about this important issue.

During the 2013-14, season the campaign held 38 events.

Show Racism the Red Card was founded in 1996 and uses the high-profile status of football and football players to help tackle racism in society. The campaign’s primary output is the education given to young people and adults in their schools, workplaces and at events held in football stadiums around Britain.