YOUNG Joe Clawson enjoyed being Leigh RMI's mascot so much he asked his dad to buy the club - just like the TV ad!

But Joe snr did the next best thing. He became a major sponsor and then he eventually joined the Management Committee of the Hilton Park-based side.

Joe owns Gosome, a nationwide electrical company based in Horwich; an ideal name to emblazon the shirts of a side that goes into today's game at Droylsden in the FA Trophy unbeaten in 14 games. This week Gosome provided the club with blazers, slacks, ties, tracks suits and a strip.

"I share offices in Horwich with the club's vice-chairman, Alan Leach, and my company involvement began when he asked Joe jnr to be a mascot," said father Joe.

"From there we sponsored Sportsman's Dinners and the odd match before I was asked to join the Management Committee. We find it pleasing and also worthwhile to support a local club.

"We have noticed a big upsurge at the club in recent weeks and the future looks bright and Gosome intend to be part of that future." Joe has built up the company that sparked into life in 1980 to one which is now in the top 50 small businesses operating in the North West.

"The only problem is that with the team being so successful they are playing twice a week and Joe Jnr misses out on the midweek games because of school the next day and it is not going down too well," added Joe.

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