Alan Shearer has kicked off Continental's latest football sponsorship campaign: Already an Official Partner of the FIFA World Cup 2006TM, Continental is now also supporting the grass roots level, with the creation of the ContiNetwork League.

The England and Premiership legend has invited ContiNetwork Partners across the country to nominate local youth football teams for sponsorship and to compete for one of the greatest prizes any football fan could win: tickets to the FIFA World Cup in Germany next year.

The ContiNetwork League will be a 'virtual league' made up of FA affiliated teams who will have been put forward by each of the 53 ContiNetwork Partners. The teams will not play each other; league positions will be determined by the average points per game the teams achieve over the 2005-6 season in their respective FA leagues.

Each successfully nominated team will receive a sponsorship package which will include a full squad kit for the 2005-6 season, a pack of merchandise including kitbags and balls and the chance to compete for FIFA World Cup 2006TM tickets as well as continued kit sponsorship for the 2006-7 season.

Come the end of the season, the ContiNetwork League winners will receive four tickets to the opening round of the FIFA World Cup Finals in Germany, plus kit; the runners up will win two World Cup tickets plus kit; and the third placed team will receive kit for the following season.

Shearer said of the ContiNetwork League: "A strong youth football culture will help us to find and develop the stars of the future, and keep the Home Nations at the forefront of the world game. As an affiliated FA club, we are offering an exclusive opportunity to be backed by Continental, an Official Partner of the FIFA World Cup 2006TM, and our local ContiNetwork Partner. Come on, get behind it!"

Leon McMahon, Channel Development Manager for Truck, commented: "Continental is an established sponsor of football at the highest level and we wanted to extend our sponsorship activities to show our support for both grass roots football and our valued ContiNetwork Partners. This is a fantastic opportunity for ContiNetwork Partners to leverage the support Continental provides to benefit their local community. And there’s everything to play for with World Cup tickets up for grabs!"