BOLTON Wanderers striker John McGinlay is responsible for changing at least one person's life.

Super John's late winner in the 1995 Coca Cola Cup Semi Final secured a trip to Wembley for soccer-mad Lewis Unsworth, aged 10, of Alexandra Road in Lostock.

Lewis' grandmother Mrs Rosalind Ainsworth, 50, promised to take him if the team got through.

But the trip turned out to be much more than a chore for Rosalind - she fell in love with the Wanderers beneath the Twin Towers.

She explained: "My dad supported the team and I have always followed them on the radio and in the paper.

"I had never seen a game before going to Wembley but ever since that day I have been hooked.

"The Wanderers have opened up a completely new interest in life for me.

"It is such an escape and I can forget all my problems and really enjoy myself.

"I just wish I'd started going to the match sooner. I didn't know what I was missing. My first year a season ticket holder was last year when we were relegated from the Premiership. But that didn't put me off.

"Football is a great hobby and I love it!

"I will go till I drop!" Now Rosalind, who lives in Aspull, turns to the back page of the BEN first and must be one of the only grandmothers trailing scarves from the car while she's travelling to away games.

She even admits to reading the programme in bed.

Rosalind added: "My friends think I am crackers. They assume it has something to do with my age. Even my husband thinks I'm crackers. He is a Wigan Rugby League fan and doesn't like football.

"We put the TV on and argue about which side to watch."

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