Ex-Bolton Wanderer's star Peter Reid on general election

Peter Reid remains fondly remembered by generations of Whites fans for his time with the club between 1974 and 1982 during which he played 261 times.

Wanderers were Merseyside-born Reid’s first senior club and the former defensive midfielder has now given his endorsement to Labour’s Phil Brickell in the Bolton West area.

He said: “Like you say, I’ve lived here since year dot and always voted.

“The Prime Minister said he’s got a plan, but as a football manager if I had his plan I wouldn’t win a game.

“How many libraries have shut down? How many youth clubs where kids could go and play table tennis and enjoy interaction?

“Where are they? They’re not there.”

The former England man’s career took him most famously to Everton and then a variety of top-tier English clubs before eventually hanging up his boots with Bury FC in 1995.

Peter Reid has endorsed Phil Brickell (Image: Public)

His subsequent career as a manager took him to Manchester City, Sunderland, where he spent eight years, and later on overseas to Thailand and Mumbai City.

But he says he has always voted in the Bolton area and that Mr Brickell will be his choice in the upcoming July poll.

Reid said: “Phil to me is the obvious choice.

Chris Green has held the seat since 2015 (Image: Office of Chris Green MP)

“I will vote Phil Brickell and I love the name, Phil Brickell, Bolton lad, we need him in.”

Bolton West has been held by Conservative Chris Green since the 2015 election when he defeated Labour’s Julie Hilling by less than a thousand votes.

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He won by a similarly slim margin in 2017 but drastically increased his majority to one of nearly 9,000 votes, defeating Labour Julie Hilling again both times.

Mr Brickell said: “I’m delighted that football legend and local resident Peter Reid is supporting my campaign to be the next Labour MP for Bolton West.

“Peter knows the difference a Labour government can make to in fixing our public services, giving every child the best possible start in life and bringing jobs and opportunities to people across our towns.”

Also standing in Bolton West is Liberal Democrat Donald McIntosh, Vicki Attenborough of the Green Party, Patrick McGrath of the English Democrats and Reform UK's Dylan Evans.

The general election will be held on July 4.