MRS Kathleen Deakin, of Westbank Road, Lostock, tells me that her father, Douglas Jones, of The Walkway, Ladybridge, Bolton, died in August at the age of 82 from bowel cancer - the last big setback of his life.

"The first was when he was 20 years old and was severely injured in an industrial accident. He was left with only the limited use of his right arm, and reasonable use of his right thumb.

"Nevertheless, when he was on the football pitch, his passion for football pushed his injuries into second place. While he was recovering from the accident, in 1939, he received a letter from Bolton Wanderers asking him to play in a trial match, but the injuries to his arm put a stop to that.

"This did not deter him, though; he soon found solace being paid playing part-time for Pwllheli football club, while at the same time working as a dining room supervisor at Butlin's holiday camp nearby. He went back to engineering after a time, and retired in the 1980s from Bolton Transport Department."

Mrs Deakin sent me a copy of the letter her father received from the Wanderers, which read: "Dear Sir, You are selected to play in our Trial Match on the Breightmet Utd, Ground, Bolton (1d bus ride from Bolton Trinity St. Station) on Monday, 14 August, 1939. Kick off 6.30pm. Please bring your own boots. Also reply by return of post stating the time of your arrival at Bolton Station. Yours faithfully, Per Pro C E Foweraker."

Interestingly, Mr Foweraker was listed as "Secretary Manager", and the telephone number for the Wanderers at Burnden Park at the time was Bolton 800.