MARK Came loved every minute of his playing career at Bolton and he was hoping his 17 years old son Shaun would kick off his professional career in the town.

Yet Shaun Came was forced to sit it out on the Reebok sidelines as his Macclesfield side went down 1-0 to Wanderers in the Worthington Cup first leg.

"It would have been his debut," said Mark, a Bolton favourite for nine years, 'but with the score remaining goalless for so long I realised he wouldn't get on.

"I was hoping he would though because I'm Bolton through and through but he was made up to be at the Reebok and I was thrilled just to see him warming up."

Came became a favourite with the Burnden fans in the Eighties before leaving in 1992 but the place still remains dear to his heart.

"This club is still special to me, I've a lot of friends and a lot of happy memories of my time here.

"Of course that was at Burnden and I know the Reebok is a great stadium but Burnden was better. It was so friendly, You knew everybody there."

Mark's spell with the Wanderers was the best of his career but when he left the central defender picked up a couple of honours that had escaped him at Burnden.

Upheaval

"When Bruce Rioch told me I wasn't in his plans I went to Chester City where we got relegated in my first season and promoted the second. Even so there was a big upheaval and after that I found myself at Exeter City.

"I had two years down there, won their Player of the Year award twice and leading goalscorer once - honest. I scored 11 goals, playing as a sweeper."

The strain of keeping a house in Devon and his family in Cheshire eventually forced him to move back north. "I played non-League for a couple of years but did my knee in and had to give it up. I've been training kids around Knutsford for a time and I've tried to get back at pro level in some capacity but it's hard finding the opportunities."

At the moment his involvement in football is through 17 years old Shaun - a central defender just like his dad.

"He was a YTS with Macclesfield and did well enough to earn a three year full contract," said Mark. "He's been in the first team squad in the three games they've played this season but been sub every time and is still waiting to get on.

"They're keeping him in the wings but apparently quite a few teams have been looking at him.

"I think he's a good player - a ball playing centre half but I don't know where he got that from because I was just a ball playing stopper!"