THE props department at the Octagon Theatre were up against it when they were asked to find a full-size FA Cup.

They found it no easy task.

With time running out - and opening night of the theatre's latest football-based production "And Did Those Feet" on the horizon - the team managed to track one down.

But the FA Cup trail for head of stage management, Caroline Burnett, did not end at Wembley - it took her to a men's outfitters in Liverpool.

She said: "I went to pick it up and turned up at a shop called Direct Designs, which turned out to be a men's clothing shop.

"I thought it a bit odd, but it turned out that the guy who owned the shop, was selling replica trophies on behalf of a friend of his, who is a soldier serving in the Iraq war."

The famous White Horse FA Cup Final - the first at Wembley, in which Bolton Wanderers beat West Ham 2-0 - is the subject of the play which opens tonight.

On the day of the final, Bolton became deserted as so many fans travelled to London.

It is estimated that 200,000 people crammed into a stadium built for just over half that.

It caused many fans to spill over on to the pitch, as mounted police, including one on a "white" horse tried to control them.

But more importantly for Martha Platt, a central character in the Octagon play, her wedding plans are falling to pieces as fiancé Ted can talk of nothing but the cup final.

The work has been a labour of love for local playwright Les Smith, who credits the theatre's current artistic director Mark Babych for helping fulfil his dream of seeing the production reach the stage.

"This is the third director I've floated the idea in front of and, fortunately, Mark understands the importance of football and its place in the community," he said.

"It's a source of pride that Wanderers were the first team to win the FA Cup at Wembley in the first final played there.

"And I also think that football and theatre are areas of passion and it's nice to bring them together."

Les, who is a lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Bolton, collaborated with his colleague Martin Thomasson to write the play, which was specially commissioned for the Octagon's 40th anniversary celebrations.

Martin said: "We're both very keen Bolton Wanderers fans and we know we share the same sense of humour and opinions about what makes for good drama."

The play sees the characters dealing with a number of issues that were pertinent to all families at that time, from the loss of a son in the First World War to short time working in the mills and local politics.

Jeff Hordley, better known as Emmerdale's Cain Dingle, takes the role of Ted, while Martha is played by Hayley Jane Standing.

The replica FA Cup cost the theatre £500, but what will happen to it once the play's run has finished?

"We'll probably end up just selling it on eBay or something," said Caroline.

"I personally wouldn't want an FA Cup just sitting in my house, but my boyfriend probably would."

  • And Did Those Feet runs until Saturday, October 20. For more information or to book tickets, visit www.octagonbolton.co.uk or ring 01204 520661.