MORE than 8,000 people turned up in April, 1963, to see a Nat Lofthouse International XI play a Showbiz XI in a charity match organised by the Bolton Round Table.

Interestingly, it was not at Burnden Park, but at the Bolton Greyhound Stadium (yes, all right, just down Manchester Road from the football stadium, but not a usual venue for local soccer), and, surprise surprise, it poured down on the day.

It was Easter Sunday, and kick-off was by Graham Haberfield, who, as you no doubt remember, played Jerry Booth in 'Coronation Street'.

The match has been brought to mind by Mr Edward G. Hill, of Wemsley Grove, Tonge Moor, who showed me a programme, which he has saved ever since. "The programme has been scribbled in by one of my sons, being on the young side then," he writes. "But its contents might help you towards another article in the Looking Back series."

Quite right, Mr Hill, it has done. And unfortunately the scribbling is so bad in parts of the programme that it is impossible to reproduce it here.

At the time, the chairman of the Bolton Round Table was Harry G. Sabini, and he explained that the event was to raise money for the Freedom from Hunger Campaign internationally, and a 'Meals on Wheels' van for the WVS locally.

Nat's team was: Jack Crompton; Jock Dodds, Jack Rowley; Henry Cockburn, Malcolm Barrass, Willie Moir; Roy Clarke, Harold Hassall, Nat Lofthouse, Stan Mortensen, Tom Finney. Reserve Johnny Morris.

The Showbiz XI was: Pip Wedge (producer of TV's 'Double Your Money' programme; Jimmy Henney (from 'Juke Box Jury'), Wally Barnes; Billy Wright (what was he doing in the Showbiz team? He married into Showbiz, of course, with a Beverley Sister), Siggy Jackson (Recording manager for Melodisc Records), Andrew Ray (actor son of equally famous father); Tommy Steele, Des O'Connor, Len Duquemin, Harry Fowler (famous Flogger Hoskins of the TVs 'Army Game'), and singer Glen Mason. The reserves were Ronnie Carroll and David Frost, with referee being Bolton's J.H. Clough.

When the final whistle went, Nat's team had beaten the opposition by eight goals to seven. Who scored: For Nat's team, Hassall 3, Clarke 2, Moir 1, Morris 1, Rowley 1. Showbiz, Mason 3, Steele 2, Carroll 2. About £850 was raised for charity.

According to a report in the paper the next day: "The crowd appreciated the timeless skill of internationals like winger Tom Finney and Roy Clarke, and some electrifying dashes by Nat, and some vintage Harold Hassall long range left-foot scoring drive."

However, there had been some drama behind the event. Few of the crowd knew that on the way to London airport that day, a Citroen carrying Ronnie Carroll, Jimmy Henney and Wally Barnes ran into the back of a Jaguar driven by TV commercial producer and second-string right-back Peter Thompson.

They finished the journey in the damaged Citroen, having abandoned the Jaguar, but the accident delayed the charter flight for the 32 players, relatives and friends. A police motor escort helped to get their coach from Manchester to Bolton on time, and the match was only 20 minutes late in starting.

But the star of the match, it appears, was neither a soccer personality nor a TV personality, but Graham Ridding, son of the Bolton manager, who came into goal for Nat's XI as a stand-in for Jack Crompton.

Time after time, said the paper, "he battled down short-range shots or pushed them over the bar. He also dealt well with drives, and disgraced himself by saving a penalty given away by Nat in the hope of helping the Showbiz XI's tiring forward line."

As as a final remark, the report said: "They took it all quite seriously. The crowd would have liked their soccer served up with a little more Showbiz humour."

Getting back to the programme shown to me by Mr Hill, however, it is also interesting looking at some of the adverts.

For instance, Southern Brothers, of Manchester Road, were advertising an Austin Mini from £447, including PT (Purchase Tax, similar to VAT these days), and an Austin Vandan Plas Princess (3 litre Mark 11) from £1,346, inc. PT.

Whitakers of Bolton were offering men's suits for £14 14s, and from Proffitts, you could hire a 19in. de luxe 'Golden TV' for 9s (35p) a week.

There was also an advert for B:B (best mild) on draught, and Crown Ale (in bottle), The Best by Far - in Any Bar, from Magee Marshall & Co., Crown Brewery, Bolton.

Oh, yes, how times have changed!