A WELL-known face and, perhaps, better known voice on the local soccer scene, Terry Gaskell, current manager of NWCL Division Two outfit Daisy Hill is about to reveal another side to his many talents.

After eighteen months of painstaking research he has almost completed the history of one of Lancashire's most famous competition's, the LFA Amateur Challenge Shield.

Says Terry: "It has taken months and months to get all this information together but I have managed to compile details on nearly every Final played since the very first one in 1906/07.

"The Bolton area has always had a big part to play in the Shield right from the off. That very first final saw two local teams win through from an entry field of 39 with Hindley Central beating Hindley Green 6-2 to become the first name engraved on the Shield. I've actually managed to get hold of a photograph of that very game.

"I now have match reports and photographs of nearly all of the 92 Finals played. Like many people I am fascinated by the history of football in our region and what started out as a little interest then grew into a passion to compile the whole thing.

"Somewhere along the line I developed this plan at the back of my mind to eventually get it all published and I had started to make plans to that effect. Now the Lancashire FA has taken an interest and they are going to assist me in finishing it all off and getting it out into print form. This is the perfect ending to all those hours I've spent going through microfilms of old newspapers at museums, libraries and the County HQ at Leyland. We are looking now to flesh it out and I'd like to hear from anyone who has memories of the Shield. It could be one of the early round ties or a final, just anything that anyone wants to tell us." Terry can be contacted on 01942 243648 or 01942 826952.

pOUR story two weeks concerning the damage being caused to the Centre Pitch Harper Green appears to have done some good. The problem concerned the posts being left up permanently on what is regarded as the best that Bolton Metro has on offer.

This has seen kids regularly using the goalmouths for kickabouts - and who can blame them - causing more damage than if it was played on each weekend. Simon Murphy of Bolton Ambassadors tells us that by the Wednesday the posts had been removed.