AFTER years of struggle Bolton's only adult rugby league club is booming.

Bolton Mets have been inundated with new players, currently on a five-match winning run and in the process of setting up two youth teams.

It is a far cry from their perennial fight to stay in existence, which they only just managed to win, from their beginnings in 1996 up to as recently as last season.

The Mets only continued to stay alive because of the determination of its hardcore of players and officials.

They have suffered a series of setbacks, having had their home ground taken away from them, to a constant problem in fielding a full side.

The lack of players meant they often had to turn out a team without substitutes and, on occasions, without a full team.

It led to regular pleas for new players from club stalwarts who, despite the problems, never lost hope that one day they could develop a thriving club with several teams and a home of their own.

They currently play at New House Farm at Breightmet but the pitch is susceptible to water-logging and is not ideal.

That vision is still a long way from becoming reality, but it is a lot closer now than it has ever been since the club was founded eight years ago.

Player-coach Chris Brown said: "It is amazing how things have changed, from not being able to field a full team to having so many players on the books, that even I cannot get into the team at the moment.

"The number of players at the club has gone through the roof. We have 30 signed on and 18-20 turning out weekly.

"We got a few players when Accrington folded. On top of that we have the hardcore nucleus of the side and new players joining the club in ones and twos.

"It has had an effect on the team, which has won five on the run, and we are fourth or fifth in the North West Counties League Division Five."

Their struggles in the past has led to the suggestion that Bolton is not a rugby town, but the club's growth suggests otherwise.

Chris added: "As well as the success of the adult team we are having some success in trying to get an under-14s team started.

"We have around 13 lads playing with us and we need one last push to get one or two more and we can get an under-14s team in a league next season.

"We are now looking to get an under-11s side going as well. We only started last week and we had three turn up, but we believe there are a lot of youngsters out there who want to play.

"When we have got the kids teams started we can start to get help with funding and then we will be looking to get our own pitch with changing rooms, where all the teams can play on Saturday and Sunday.

"We have been going since 1996, and we have battled through some hard years, but now it is starting to come together.

"We have got the numbers in the senior team, we are getting the kids, next we will be looking to get funding and then get our own pitch.

"We have got big plans for next year."