FEW fans could have come further to say goodbye to Burnden Park last night than Dave Hodson who arrived in Bolton yesterday following a 23-hour flight from Perth.

Dave emigrated in 1981 to work as a quantity surveyor and is now the director of a company making computer software for the construction industry.

He has three sons - all born in Australia - and the eldest is Bolton crazy.

Dave said: "I am a Bolton fan from way back and spent 20 years watching them man and boy through good and bad, mostly bad unfortunately.

"I felt that I should see the last game because I have watched football at Burnden Park for so many years and wanted to say goodbye.

"I felt sad about leaving Burnden until I saw the new stadium yesterday. The whole club is buzzing."

Dave, 44, was born and bred in Bolton and lived in the Chorley Old Road area in his younger years.

A regular at Burnden until he moved to Australia aged 28, he is now a member of the Bolton Wanderers Down Under Supporters' Club.

Most members are in Sydney and Dave would like to hear from any other Bolton supporters in Perth. Burnden Park: A night to

remember - Pages 30 & 31

He aims to form a supporters club there and has already contacted one exiled Wanderer by accident: "My son's mate turned up at school wearing a Bolton top. His dad is also Wanderers fan now living over here."

Dave's mate Warren Davenport got him a ticket for the big game and he enjoyed his first steak pudding in five years - and a few pints - before the game last night.

His first game at Burnden was a reserve fixture back in 1961 as an eight year old.

His Burnden highlight was the 3-0 demolition of Manchester United in the old First Division days.

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