Steven Gerrard: "It's good to have some real choices about your future"

Government figures indicate almost three-quarters of children from middle-class families go on to university, but only 14% of working-class youngsters take up a place in higher education.

The government wants to widen access to universities and colleges, with at least half of all young people entering higher education by 2010.

"Very few people make it as a professional but if you want to be a footballer, then go for it," said Mr Gerrard.

"But if it doesn't work out, then it's good to have some real choices about your future.

"If you love the game, then behind every successful player is a team of well-qualified people and to do that you need to think seriously about going on to higher education," he said.

'Missing out'

"There are plenty of bright youngsters out there who have the ability to go to university, but are missing out," said Lifelong Learning and Higher Education Minister Margaret Hodge.

The message will be spread in magazine - and radio - adverts

"It might be because they don't think university is for them, that none of their friends and family have been before, or simply because they know little or nothing about it," she said.

"We want young people to follow their dreams - we will always need good footballers - but we also need more doctors, nurses, teachers and other professionals."

A profession or a good education was something to fall back on and gave young people more choices about their future, she added.

More information about the Aim Higher campaign can be found at www. dfes.gov.uk/aimhigher