THE biggest event ever to hit the Bolton Amateur football scene is set to take place tonight as Tempest United and Charnock Richard contest the Goldline Trophy in association with the Bolton Evening News Final at the Reebok Stadium. Guest of Honour is yet again Nat Lofthouse OBE with special invited guests Lofty the Lion and Mayor of Bolton Allan Wilkinson.

The game will again be videoed by Dave "Ding Dong Do" Higson. Both clubs will have large followings on the night with tickets having sold like hotcakes in the two camps over the last week.

In recognition of his quite remarkable service to the club, Tempest United are expected to be led out onto the pitch by chairman Alan Westhead.

Joint manager Pete Darby explains, "The amount of work that Alan puts in for our club is just incredible.

"All the lads want to make the most of this fabulous opportunity to say a big thank you to him.

"It will give all the lads that special boost to see Alan at the forefront as we go out."

Both teams from the West Lancs League go into the final on the back on notable Second Round wins in the LFA Amateur Challenge Shield on Saturday.

Premier Division Charnock won 3-2 at home against fellow West Lancs side Thornton Cleveleys, while Tempest won 2-0 away at Mid Cheshire League side Golborne Sports.

Thankfully all the players in those two games came through unscathed to take their places in a showpiece final that will be the highlight of their careers.

The game kicks off at 7.30pm with the Final of the Penalty Prize competition between the representatives of Rivington and Atherton Town taking place in the half-time interval.

Main organiser Bob Shuttleworth outlined his feelings on the importance of tonight's game when he said, "This first ever Goldline Trophy Final at the Reebok Stadium isn't about one match, it's about the future of Bolton football.

"We have been in the doldrums to some extent over recent seasons and this competition has lifted everybody.

"The top two clubs in the area, Leigh RMI and Bolton Wanderers, have enabled us to do that.

"The whole tournament is about helping Bolton and District football.

"Tickets are made available to all teams and football organisations in the region to sell and raise money for their own causes. "The first two finals we had down at Leigh RMI with Atherton LR beating Atherton Town and then Pennington winning over Bolton County were absolute football treats and showed the strength and quality of our local game.

"The clash between Charnock and Tempest just whets the appetite for more because they are two good footballing sides.

"All the top teams in the area were in this tournament and these two are in the final on merit.

"What a night it is going to be and we just hope that the occasion gets the support from the local football public that it fully deserves."

It is possible to pay on the night with admission set at £2 and concessions £1.

TEAMS:

Charnock Richard - Mgr Terry Gaskell - Edge, Fisher, Mason, Sutton, Iley, Lynch, Cunliffe, Schofield, Roberts, Kerrigan, Taylor, Hurst, Graham, Hagan, Greenacre, Allen.

Tempest Utd - Jnt Mgrs - Pete Darby/Mick Farnworth - Hassall, Crook, Horridge, Westhead, Holden, Bennett, Senior, Settle, Hill, Horrobin, Worlow, Clark, Collier (R), Collier (D), Freeman, Benjamin.