Church of England Shoots for Soccer Recruits

`Your local bishops are very excited about tomorrow`s new signing...you!`

The Church of England is trying to attract new members by running an advertising campaign aimed at soccer supporters.

The campaign, which is being run in match day programmes for sides playing in the west Midlands, features four bishops from the Diocese of Lichfield underneath the headline -- "Your local bishops are very excited about tomorrow's new signing...you!"

The idea for the advert was thought up by Gavin Drake, director of communications for the Diocese of Lichfield, who is also the pitch-side compere for lower-league team Walsall.

"Some say football is the new religion but in reality far more people go to church on a Sunday than go to football matches on a Saturday," said Drake in a statement.

"So if football fans respond to these adverts and come back to church you can guarantee that they'll never walk alone."

Attendance at Anglican services has almost halved over the past 40 years as Britain has grown steadily more secular.

Buying soccer programmes is an integral part of the ritual of fans attending games in Britain and there is a thriving collectors' market in them.