BOLTON Wanderers have released a limited edition third shirt — and sales of the kit will benefit the charity Blesma, which supports veterans who have lost limbs serving their country.

It’s a great charity — and the recent Invictus Games, championed by Prince Harry — showed how much support there is for brave servicemen and women in this country.

So hopefully, it goes without saying that I think this is a laudable initiative by Whites.

But I need to take a minute to talk about the kit itself, which comes in a rather fetching shade of military green.

Aside from the fact that it is the same colour as a 1970s avocado bathroom, the shirt is basically camouflage for our players.

Great for a bit of weekend paintballing — not so great if you are attempting to pick out a 40-yard pass at the Reebok (sorry, Macron).

Which genius came up with that idea? I had to check the date when the press release came through to make sure it wasn’t April 1st.

It reminds me of the infamous grey shirt Manchester United wore during the 1995/96 season.

They wore the shirt five times that season and failed to win a single game — much to the delight of Whites fans.

United legends such as Ryan Giggs, Lee Sharpe and Eric Cantona complained to their boss Alex Ferguson that they couldn’t see each other out on the pitch, because of the camouflage-effect of the kit.

Famously, they even changed shirts at half time away to Southampton in April 1996 after they went three goals down in the first 45 minutes.

Wanderers are producing 1,000 of the shirts for fans — and £10 from each sale will go straight to Blesma.

But it's bad news for anyone hoping the shirt will only be seen on the terraces — Whites have confirmed that they will be wearing the kit at selected away matches during the 2014/15 season.

On current form, it will be hard to tell if any poor performances are down to the shirt — but it might at least give Dougie a new excuse for losing.

Season ticket holders can order the £45 shirt (£35 for juniors) at bwfcdirect.co.uk until October 12. Any remaining shirts will then go on open sale.

There was due to be a bucket collection and other match day activities ahead of Saturday’s home game against Derby County. To donate, go to blesma.org

TRAFFIC LIGHTS COCK-UP

This week we reported on bungling workmen in Little Lever who put a traffic light in the middle of a narrow pavement — blocking the path of mobility scooters and parents with large buggies. 

It was a classic public sector cock-up. Stories like this are like gold dust in the newsroom. 

The pictures showed how ridiculous the situation was — and the video of Martin Knowles attempting a three point turn in his mobility scooter, just so he could get past the traffic light, was priceless. 

Just as we were putting the story together we got word that Transport for Greater Manchester was on the scene. 

They had heard about the mishap after we contacted them — and were moving swiftly to rectify the problem. 

It was good to see common sense prevail — but it’s even better when we can all have a good laugh at such ineptitude.

HOLIDAYS

I’m off on my jols next week.

My other half has more holidays than Judith Chalmers — but I’ve not been away yet this year so I can’t wait.

It’s a cheapo, last-minute deal in an attempt to catch some winter sun, so we’ll be on one of those flights where there’s no movie and the £7 meal deal consists of a can of Stella and a bag of dry-roasted peanuts.

There was no such thing as budget airlines back in the 1980s when I was a kid, so our annual getaway was similar to that of many other Bolton families — Blackpool.

I was certainly no stranger to the place growing up. We would go once a week on a day trip with my grandparents during the school holidays.

Then, just in case we hadn’t had enough of the place, we’d go again for a full week in the height of summer — me, my two sisters, my mum, grandparents, my aunty and uncle, and my cousins.

Bizarrely, my dad never came with us. I now realise he was having his own blissful staycation, away from us lot, all on his own, back in Bolton.

Highlights of our trip included daily pitch and putt and riding on the donkeys — I would insist on going on whichever one was called Champion and firmly believed it was the same donkey every year, despite the fact it was grey one summer (the donkey, not the weather).

ALL HAIL THE ALE

I was at Bolton Market the other day chatting to the new owners of Great Ale Year Round.

The micro-bar/real ale bottle shop is one of the big success stories of the revamped market.

It is now run by local girl Anne Simms and her Australian hubby Steve after they took over the enterprise from Dan and Gina Buck, who launched the bar back in January.

The pair are keen to continue the success that the Bucks had with the business and are introducing a regular ‘meet the brewer’ event, where real ale fans can chat to the people behind their favourite tipples.

The first of these events is on October 4 from 11am to 1pm when the chaps from Worsley brewery Seven Bro7hers will be down at the market.

For information go to greataleonline.co.uk or follow them on Twitter @greataleyear

GAME OF CAT AND MOUSE

Our mouse-loving cat has ditched her ethical stance on rodent capture. Her latest offering — which I found neatly displayed at the bottom of the stairs when I got home from work on Thursday evening — was well and truly deceased. That left me with just one question — which recycling bin do you put dead mice in?