BURNLEY chief executive Paul Fletcher has urged local students to get their applications in early if they want to sign up to degree courses at the club.

UFCB (University and College of Football Business) and Burnley FC won the most innovative non-match day use of a football ground category, beating Premier League club Manchester City, at this week’s annual North West Football Awards.

And Fletcher believes the facility, which only opened its doors in September, will now be in big demand.

“It’s great for the town and the region to have an institution like UCFB right on our doorstep – attracting students and speakers from across the world, and giving Burnley’s young people the chance to study in their hometown,” he said.

“But my message to them would be ‘get in quick’ because UCFB is acknowledged as a world first - to have a university within a football club - and once word spreads we might not have room for everyone who wants to study here.”

The institution is located within Turf Moor, with lecture rooms, the auditorium and student library overlooking the pitch.

UCFB has 60 students enrolled in its first year and is looking to accept around 200 in 2012s intake.

Fletcher added: “If and local students are wanting to study media, marketing and finance, where better to do it than on your doorstep.”