5 Years Ago

ALL the transfer speculation centred on who Wanderers would sign as cover for goalkeeper Jussi Jasskelainen but by far the most significant signing of the summer so far was that of Sammy Lee – the man Sam Allardyce recruited as assistant manager following Phil Brown’s departure.

Brown had left the Reebok to take up his first managerial post at Derby County, leaving Allardyce to look for a new right-hand man. And Lee – the former Liverpool and England midfielder who was a full-time member of England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson’s coaching staff – came with a glowing reference from the Football Association.

Sir Trevor Brooking, the FA’s director of football development, said Lee had made a major contribution to the England coaching team.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Sammy and, while it will be a loss for the FA, we are delighted he will continue working with Sven and the rest of the seniors coaching set-up.”

Lee said: “The opportunity Sam Allardyce has offered me with Bolton is too good to ignore. Bolton have made incredible progress in recent years and it will be great to join them as they kick off their first ever European campaign.”

Allardyce, meanwhile, was working on two fronts as he looked for back-up keepers. The Wanderers boss was in talks with the Oman international Ali Al-Habsi and the former England number one Ian Walker, who had been released by Leicester City.

The Glazer family, who had completed their controversial £790million takeover of Manchester United, responded to concerns over their plans for the club’s future by assuring manager Sir Alex Ferguson they would provide funds for new signings.

“When I read about caps and hands being tied it is very frustrating,” said Joel, one of the sons of billionaire US business tycoon Malcolm Glazer who had acquired the club.

“We are there to provide the manager with what he needs to compete and win at the highest level.”

Wigan Athletic’s Premiership future was already said to be “on the line” before they had even kicked a ball with chairman Dave Whelan locked in a row over an unpaid police bill.

Stuart Law hit a sublime century to fire Lancashire to an emphatic Twenty20 victory over Yorkshire at Old Trafford.

The Australian delighted an Old Trafford crowd with a power-packed performance that gave Lancashire a 109-run winning margin over their Roses rivals.

Leigh Centurions blew their big chance of a first victory for 20 years over their arch-rivals Wigan.

Leading 10-8 at half time in the Super League clash at Hilton Park, they were punished for a shocking start to the second half and lost 30-16.

25 Years Ago

CHARLIE Wright returned from holiday to continue the task of putting his personal stamp on Bolton Wanderers.

The Burnden boss had already signed striker David Cross and central defender Dave Sutton and had opened talks with former Scotland international midfielder Asa Hartford. Now he was aiming to recruit former Burnley captain and left-back Derek Scott, who had twice rejected offers to join Wanderers.

Wright, who had already used his powers of persuasion to convince winger Jeff Chandler to sign a contract extension, was also trying to sign Doncaster’s 23-year-old striker Steve Lister.

An era came to an end at Wimbledon where Britain’s former champion Virginia Wade played her 86th and final singles match – going down to a gutsy defeat to American rival Pam Shriver. Tournament officials were bracing themselves for another rant from John McEnroe, the reigning men’s champion who was said to be furious at being made to play his third round match against South African qualifier Christo Steyn on Court Two.

Over at Lord’s, England were fighting a losing battle in the second Ashes Test after Alan Border put the Australians in command with an imperious 196 in their first innings total of 425.

Bolton distance runner Steve Kenyon ran one of the best races of his career when he equalled Mike McLeod’s course record of 62 minutes 44 seconds to win the Great North Run.

50 Years Ago

BRIAN Statham – established England Test cricketer and one of the most respected pace bowlers in the world – was innocently caught in the crossfire of cricket’s “chucking” row.

South African fast bowler Geoff Griffin’s career was in jeopardy as his suspect action came under scrutiny after he was no-balled for throwing while on tour in England.

Griffin’s action contained a “jerk” and certain umpires had deemed that to be illegal, sparking a major controversy that led to a range of comparisons with some of cricket’s most famous bowlers.

Amazingly, Statham and fellow England bowler Peter Loader were drawn into the row when Bill Marais, a former South African Test umpire, claimed in a newspaper interview: “Brian Statham is one of the finest bowlers I’ve ever had the privilege of umpiring and if he still bowls with the same action he used when I saw him during MCC’s visit to this country, I would feel justified in saying there is a certain amount of ‘jerk’ there.

“The same applies to Peter Loader, but nobody would condemn these great bowlers as ‘throwers’.”

There was no sign of Statham being affected by the row as he took four wickets to help Lancashire complete their seventh County Championship victory of the season with a 10-wicket beating of Hampshire at Liverpool.

South Africa, without Griffin, were embarrassed to be bowled out by Gloucestershire for just 49 – losing nine wickets in the space of just 46 minutes – in their tour match at Bristol.

Britain’s hopes of a Wimbledon triumph were dashed when Ann Haydon suffered a surprise semi-final defeat by the South African Sandra Reynolds – a player she had beaten three times in previous meetings.