From the Evening News, May 8,1992

BOLTON Wanderers today sacked manager Phil Neal.

The bombshell comes after Neal's most disappointing season in his six and a-half years at the club. There has been increasing pressure on him during the last two months of the season as the side's form dipped and they dropped out of the Third Division promotion race. Also leaving the club is Neal's assistant Mick Brown. Neal was appointed manager in 1985 in succession to Charlie Wright, and was the Wanderers' 13th post-war manager.

THE campaign to stop Bolton Parish Church becoming a "ruin" has been given a £100,000 lifeline. The English Heritage organisation has awarded the grant for vital repairs to save one of the town's most famous buildings.

25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, May 9, 1977

BEWARE, Bolton town centre drinkers. All that glistens is not gold. Pendants, supposedly made from nine carat American gold, are being hawked around Bolton pubs. As much as £15 is known to have changed hands for the shiny pendants. But a friend of one buyer became suspicious and handed an example to the Evening News. An expert at Prestons, the Bolton town centre jewellers, examined it and estimated its value at between two pence and three pence. An ounce of genuine nine carat gold would be worth about £30.

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, May 9,1952

BOLTON Labour Party achieved a resounding victory reminiscent of 1945 by winning seven seats from the Conservatives yesterday. These gains give them complete and immediate control of the Town Council irrespective of the aldermanic elections later in the month. For the first time in the history of Farnworth, Labour scored a complete victory in the local elections by winning all six seats against Conservative opposition.

SIR -- Going into a local cinema on Wednesday night, I got a seat behind a woman with a most ridiculous hat. It blocked out half the screen and made me sit to one side. This wouldn't be nice for the person sitting behind me.

Surely if a woman wants to go to the cinema she should take her hat off inside. The first thing a man does is to remove his hat. Yours, A. Stones. Breightmet, Bolton.

100 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, May 9, 1902

THE dedication of St Catherine's Church, Horwich, has taken place, and more than an ordinary interest attached to the event by reason of the controversy which has for so long marred the equanimity of church life in the town. The church is situated on a site near Chorley New-rd., and the portion completed consists of lofty nave, side aisles, vestries, and temporary chancel, leaving transepts, side chancel, and east end to be added at some future time.

The present part provides about 600 sittings, which number will be greatly increased when the church is completed. In the basement, a large parish room is provided, also lavatories, etc.

It is proposed to use chairs for the present, and the lighting will be by pendants, incandescent burners being used. The heating is by hot water on a low pressure system.