In May, 1951, the Bolton Evening News had today’s photograph on the front page with no story and just a very simple caption.

“Boys of Brownlow Fold Secondary Modern School enjoying a game of shinty at Moss Bank Park.”

I had never heard of local schools playing shinty before and I confess that I know little about the game so I looked it up on an internet search engine.

I found out that shinty is unique to Scotland and one of the oldest games in the world.

It is similar to games such as hockey and lacrosse in some aspects and has historical roots with golf and ice hockey.

As with lacrosse. the game is a fast moving aerial game where physical fitness is tested to the limits. However, it is different from both hockey and lacrosse as in shinty feet can be used to stop the ball but not the hands unless you are the goal-keeper. You can carry the ball on your caman, the stick, which can be also be swung above shoulder height . . . a skilful eye and a sense of survival are paramount!

l Tomorrow’s Best Days of their Lives will feature Central Drive School, Westhoughton.