Two student journalists have scored a winning goal by signing soccer pundit Mark Lawrenson as a star columnist for their newspaper.

'Lawro' agreed to write for the sports section of The Preston Independent after being approached by Mark Welford and Rob Gill.

"We worked really hard to get in contact with Lawro and couldn't believe it when we actually got to talk to him," said Mark, who is in his third year at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston.

Fellow student Rob said: "I was delighted to capture such a high profile sports personality for our column. He took a lot of tracking down and so when I eventually got hold of him I was thrilled when he agreed to write for us for the next eight weeks."

Mark and Rob, (both 21), are reluctant to disclose the signing fee for the former Liverpool defender and Republic of Ireland international who's a regular on BBC 1's Match of the Day - although they hope to take him out for pint to show their gratitude.

Pundit Lawrenson said: "When Rob first rang me up I actually thought he was a journalist from The Sunday Times, but when he told me he was a university student I thought 'what the hell' and was more than happy to help out."

Mark and Rob are members of an 18-strong team of students producing weekly title The Preston Independent. They're competing against rival tabloid The Preston Journal, staffed by 19 third year students. Production of the titles is integral to the course for all third year UCLAN print students.

Senior journalism lecturer Delwyn Swingewood said: "Rob and Mark showed great initiative using their contacts to get Lawrenson. It left their rivals fuming over such a great signing.

"It's wonderful that Lawrenson agreed to help out these future journalists in such a generous way."

The duo hope to specialise in sports reporting when they graduate this summer.

Rob is well on the way to fulfilling this ambition, having secured a work placement with the Press Association sports desk in Howden last January.

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