20 Years Ago

OLD Trafford was buzzing with expectation as Lancashire remained on course for cricket’s Grand Slam.

A six-wicket victory over Somerset kept them in step with front runners Derbyshire and Middlesex as they fought tooth and nail to retain the Refuge Assurance Sunday League trophy; they already had the Benson and Hedges Cup in the trophy cabinet, there was a NatWest quarter-final clash with Gloucestershire in the offing and they were still in contention for the County Championship.

Such was the strength of the squad that their convincing Sunday League victory over Somerset was achieved without the services of paceman Paul Allott and spinner David Hughes – two of the maintstays of their pursuit of the game’s biggest trophies.

Not that Somerset made it easy. They posted a respectable 203-7 but with Neil Fairbrother and David Lloyd giving the reply a flying start by slamming 68 from nine overs, the result was never in any serious doubt and Lancashire reached their target with more than two overs to spare.

Locally, the Bolton League had an even easier victory over the Bolton Association in the annual Trinity Cup duel at Bolton Cricket Club.

The Association were bowled out for a modest 111 - opener Andrew Mawson, who scored 41, being the only player to show any serious resistance to the League bowling attack.

Two rain interruptions meant the League were set a revised target of 87 from 37 overs – something they achieved with considerable ease.

A certain Phil Neville was making a big name for himself on the local sporting scene, but not exclusively on the football front, where he would go on to hit the heights with Manchester United, Everton and England.

Phil – younger of the famous Neville brothers from Bury – hit centuries in successive matches to help Lancashire Schoolboys Under-13s cricket team end the season unbeaten.

30 Years Ago

BRIAN Aspen’s slim hopes of bringing an Olympic wrestling medal back to Bolton ended when he he emerged beaten, bloodied but unbowed from his fight against a highly-rated Romanian in Moscow.

The son of former British coach Albert Aspen, the 21-year-old roofer suffered a badly cut eye after taking two nasty blows to his head but still managed to take Auriel Suteu the distance, earning a lot of credit for his determination as well as his talent.

“I was pleased it went the distance,” said Aspen who lost to a Greek opponent in his first fight in the qualifying pool. “These guys out here are the best in the world and staying the distance was some consolation.

“I knew my medal chances were slim but you have to believe in yourself or else there is no point in coming here.”

Back in Bolton, Wanderers were preparing for life back in the Second Division under manager Stan Anderson.

These were difficult times at Burnden Park as supporters came to terms with the harsh reality of relegation after a miserable season at the foot of Division One.

But Anderson was delighted when he persuaded promising young striker Mike Carter to sign a new contract.

Eighteen-year-old Billy Bromilow won the Bolton Golf Championship in a final of high drama on his home course at Chorley, beating Dunscar’s Alex Goodwin by two holes.

45 Years Ago

CANADIAN athletes impressed in a three-cornered athletics meeting at Bolton’s Leverhulme Park.

The Manitoba State team gave a powerful display of running when they took on teams from Bury and District and Manchester and District.

But there were home successes with Bury’s Barrie Kelly, Britain’s top sprinter, setting a track record 9.7secs for the 100 yards. Eddie Pavitt of Leigh Harriers won the 100 yards B race in 10secs.

Manitoba State won the match with 51 points, just one point ahead of Manchester & District with Bury & District 39. But Bury won the women’s match convincingly on 75pts, with Manitoba second on 60 and Manchester trailing on 39.

Arnold O’Connor (Bolton) beat Ronnie Tudor (Horwich) 2&1 to win the Bolton Golf Association championship at Chorley.

Bury sold winger Paul Durrant to Doncaster for a modest fee but Stockport County weren’t happy. They claimed they had an agreement with Bury to take Durrant to Edgeley Park and complained to the Football League.