BOLTON Artillery bids its own farewell to Burnden Park with a charity sportsmen's dinner later this month.

Only Wanderers legend Nat Lofthouse and The Bolton Artillery have been honoured with the freedom of Bolton and the artillery's links with the club go back a long way.

"The association of Bolton Wanderers and the Bolton Artillery is well known from the era of the second world war when much of the team joined up," said Major Brian Gibson.

The Bolton Artillery Barracks are only a stone's throw from the ground and on June 24 the soldiers will host a Sportsmen's Dinner at Burnden Park's executive suite in aid of the Lancashire Army Benevolent Fund.

Master of ceremonies will be Red Rose Gold's Norman Thomas with former Scotland and Leeds United captain Billy Bremner as the principal speaker alongside comedian Vern Tracey.

"This is our way of closing a chapter in the history of the ground and at the same time help raise money for a good cause," said Major Gibson.

Tickets for the event are available from the TA Centre at Nelson Street or by phoning Captain Les Scholes on Bolton 362111.

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