A DESPERATE display of passion has been urgently called for by a Bolton Wanderers fan for whom nothing is "tattoo" much trouble. Super Bolton soccer fan Andy Kearney, who has heroes in "thigh" places, has literally got the club under his skin. The 33-year-old self-employed builder from Halliwell was last featured in the paper when he had a famous FA Cup tie victory scene - captured by BEN photographer Paul Heyes - tattooed onto his leg.

Since that time, Andy has added to the scene on his leg with John McGinlay's autograph, and is now promising to have yet another tattoo when - not if - Bolton Wanderers stay up.

Andy said: "We will not go down. I am sure of it. I have tipped Barnsley, Crystal Palace and Spurs. We will finish fourth from bottom.

"And if we do escape the drop I will have another tattoo done."

Andy is unsure exactly what he will have pictured, but promises to think up something a little bit "imaginative", but of course symbolic of Bolton Wanderers, if relegation is avoided.

His last creation, done by tattoo artist, Dave Taylor, was an autograph by his hero John McGinlay. Andy explained: "He was signing autographs for people as part of a BEN promotion, so instead of giving him the usual piece of paper, I put my leg in front of him and asked him to sign it.

"I then had it tattooed.

"McGinlay is my hero and although he has now left the club he always will be.

"I do not regret any of my tattoos. The 'White Hot' tattoo may well be of Jason McAteer, McGinlay and Andy Walker, who have all left the club, but it is a memory of a very special time - a time that will go down in folklore.

"Even if we did get relegated, it wouldn't affect my commitment."

His message to Colin Todd and his team is simple: "More passion is needed. Good football has got to go out of the window. This is a fighting situation. We have to keep our heads up and give 100 per cent.

"These next three home games are the most crucial in the Wanderers' history. If we go down - and I don't think we will - we could be left with 12,000 fans in our big new stadium.

"I would also buy a player I think could be ideal for us - a midfielder called George O'Boyle who plays for St Johnston."

Andy also helps run an "unofficial" Bolton Wanderers website with his brother, Stephen, who lives in Scotland, which can be found on ww.virtual system.co.uk/bwfc/

Tattoo artist, Dave Taylor, whose shop is House of Tattoos, Bark Street, Bolton, is also a Wanderers season ticket holder.

Despite the team's current position, he said: "I still get quite a few people wanting Wanderers tattoos, particularly of Lofty.

"So far, no one has asked me to remove any."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.