'SUPER" John McGinlay remains a top draw with the fans, more than a year after leaving Bolton Wanderers.
The Scotland striker's continuing popularity and undiminished passion for the club he served for five glorious years has helped disabled supporters hit the jackpot with their biggest ever fund-raiser.
McGinlay, currently with Oldham Athletic but now president of the Bolton Wanderers Disabled Supporters' Association, even outstripped current Reebok stars in an auction of memorabilia to raise cash for a minibus.
Bidding for the last shirt McGinlay wore as a Bolton player reached a staggering £600 and when he donated his own copy of a signed picture of himself and the legendary Nat Lofthouse, the hammer went down at an incredible £325.
The auction at the Grey Mare in Westhoughton also saw one of Mark Fish's South Africa shirts go for £230 while Wanderers' shirts donated by Michael Johansen and Dean Holdsworth were snapped up for £175 and £160 respectively.
But it was the strength of feeling towards McGinlay that helped the supporters raise £1,580 on the night.
"It speaks for itself," said BWDSA treasurer John Heaton, "The bidding for a signed Wanderers ball started at £20 but, after John put his signature on it, it went for £90.
"His shirt started at £250 and before you could turn round it had reached £500. He only recently became our president but he's made an immediate impact.
"As a result of the money raised on Sunday, we've been able to order the special tracking and clamping system we need on the bus if it's to carry wheelchairs.
"Another two weeks and we will be on the road."
The BWDSA decided to buy and renovate their own bus after paying £6,000 a year to lease the vehicles they had been using to ferry fans to Wanderers matches.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article