ONE of Bolton Wanderers' first secretary-managers has been hailed as a footballing pioneer following new research.

Fitzroy Norris was one of three men who helped to establish Manchester as a footballing city, according to research by sports historian Gary James.

According to the research, Mr Norris was a key influence during the 1870s before he became a Wanderers’ committeeman.

Published in the prestigious International Journal of the History of Sport, 'Manchester’s Footballing Pioneers, 1863-1904: A Collective Biography' is the first research project to seriously consider Manchester football’s founding fathers.

Mr James, who carried out his research as part of International Sport and Leisure History at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “Football in Manchester needed key individuals to recognise the potential of the sport.

"Within about a year of arriving in Manchester in the 1870s Fitzroy Norris set up Manchester Association FC — a prominent club in the early years of the game.

“He worked tirelessly to promote football in Manchester, organising games and events to promote the sport, even after he had become involved at Bolton.”

The research identifies that without men like Mr Norris football may never have become embedded in Mancunian life.

Mr James goes on to state that Mr Norris learned from those around him, especially through his time as a player with Nottingham Forest.

This research is part of a much wider project Mr James has embarked on.

He added: “My aim with this research is to properly analyse the emergence, development and establishment of Manchester’s footballing life.

"To do that I’ve researched the individuals there in the formative years and the clubs, alongside the general footballing community.

"For me, Fitzroy Norris has been quite an interesting character. Not only was he a key figure behind Manchester’s football story, but he was also a former Nottingham Forest player, Bolton Wanderers’ secretary-manager and made his name mostly as a referee."

As well as Mr Norris The research also hailed John Nall and Joshua Parlby.

At a time when rugby was the city’s favoured sport, the trio used their wide experience and cross-society connections to move football from a niche sport to one of the city’s greatest passions.

Hulme resident Mr Nall was the catalyst in the early 1860s, but the sport needed the ideas of both Mr Norris and Mr Parlby to become a significant aspect of Mancunian life.

Mr James added: “There’s yet more research to be performed on these early years, but it’s clear that via these men a football community was established. That community developed and evolved over time, ultimately leading to recognition around the world of Manchester’s footballing pedigree.

“I was supported in this research by colleagues from International Sport and Leisure History at the university and our research into Manchester’s sporting heritage continues.”

Mr James is a member of the Sports and Leisure History Group at Manchester Metropolitan University.

For information go to www.cheshire.mmu.ac.uk/sport-history