BOLTON Wanderers clashed with champions Manchester United yesterday . . . nine days before the start of this season's Premier League campaign.

It was not a case of Michael Ricketts versus Jaap Stam, but the Super Whites did get their hands on the Premiership trophy under the watchful eye of manager Sam Allardyce.

Models donned shirts from every Premier League club to officially unveil Barclaycard as the new sponsors of this season's campaign at a ceremony at Manchester's Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Model Lucy Hunter, aged 28, wore the famous Reebok shirt . . . and came face to face with her Manchester United counterpart Lauranne Avery, aged 29.

The two met over the brand new Premiership trophy, unveiled by Barclaycard chief executive Gary Hoffman.

Lucy, from Leeds, said: "I hope this season's Premiership campaign will be exciting for Bolton Wanderers and every other club in the league."

And Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce must now be hoping everything goes as smoothly as it did yesterday when the two teams clash for real at Old Trafford on October 20.

Managers of all 20 Premier League clubs and officials from the Football Association attended the function yesterday.

Barclaycard have announced a £48 million pound deal to sponsor the Premiership over the next three years.

Mr Hoffman said: "We're delighted to be involved in England's national game and we look forward to working with the clubs in the years ahead.

"It's a great honour and privilege for us to sponsor the Premier League. We want to get it right and we're very well aware of our responsibilities, as a sponsor, to respect the history, the heritage and the fabric of the game."