BOLTON'S proud heritage of amateur football is set to be recorded forever in a major new project.

Soccer-mad sociologist Peter Swain of Salford University and BEN local football correspondent John Bullen have teamed up to form The Friends of Football.

The organisation is dedicated to promoting amateur football in Bolton.

And their first job is to compile a comprehensive archive of amateur football through the century which will be put on show in an exhibition at Bolton Museum late next year.

Now they are appealing for help from the public to gather as much material as possible for the archive.

Peter said: "We desperately need as much material as we can lay our hands on to be able to record a social history of amateur football in the town."

John added: "Bolton teams are the oldest in Lancashire and the town has had an ongoing love affair with 'the beautiful game'. It would be a tragedy for the town if all the material held by people at home was not brought together and documented.

"How much must have already been lost when people have died and their personal belongings have been disposed of?"

Old photographs of teams, old kit, memorabilia, minute books of clubs and leagues, medals and trophies are all needed for the archive.

Peter said: "Anything concerned with amateur football from 1870 to 1997, even anecdotes about players and officials would be welcomed."

The project is receiving support from Bolton Museum. Adrian Jenkins of the museum staff said: "Following the huge success of the exhibition Football Glory, The Burnden Park Story we thought it was appropriate to have an exhibition about Bolton's whole football heritage."

Items can be posted to Peter at 27 Kirklands, Harwood, Bolton, BL2 4LU or he can be called on Bolton 399147.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.