A TELEVISION crew from Turkey flew thousands of miles to film a football club in Fordingbridge.

The Turkish television company made the long trip to the Hampshire town to interview members of Fordingbridge Turks FC for a travel programme.

The finished documentary, which will be aired in Turkey and Turkish speaking channels across the world, will focus on the club’s history since 1868, it being one of the oldest clubs in the country.

Michael Penton, who is chairman of the club which play in the Bournemouth Hayward League, said: “I am amazed at the interest shown in the club by the Turkish community. Eighty per cent of the people following our twitter account are Turkish.

“Now we have joined up with Fordingbridge Town, we have a pool of 240 youngsters to train up and build a really strong team.

“The interest from Turkey is fantastic at a time when the team is really set to step up a gear and go places.”

The club was given its name because of the bravery the Turkish Army showed when fighting the Russians in the Crimean War.

The term Turk was chosen because it was thought to sum up the club’s fighting spirit.

After interviews were finished at the Recreation Ground on Friday, the TV company crew took a tour of the Turks’ exhibition at Fordingbridge Museum.

Accommodating their visit was museum curator Julian Hewitt.

He said: “Fordingbridge is very proud of the Turks and their heritage.

“We are keen that people learn more about them and we have a very good exhibition to show what they have achieved.”

To find out more about the exhibition, contact the museum on 01425 657850 or visit fordingbridgemuseum.co.uk.