FOOTBALL fans will have a ball when Bolton Wanderers play in Europe on Thursday night.

More than 4,000 fans are travelling to Portugal for the UEFA cup-tie against Vitoria Guimaraes.

And nearly 1,000 of them will be taking specially made Wanderers beach balls with them to raise vital cash for Bolton charity Vision Aid.

Members of the website WanderersWays BWFC came up with the idea to use Bolton's European Campaign to raise money for charity, and have been selling the balls for £2.

Bolton-based Vision Aid was chosen because the "invaluable" help it has given to fan Mike Gregson's two-year-old daughter, Erin.

Mr Gregson, who lives in Little Lever with his partner, Mandy Black, said: "The idea of beach balls first came up before the match against Bulgaria, but there was not enough time so we decided to do it for Portugal.

"The beach ball idea was discussed because people associate Europe with going on holiday."

Fan site member Neil Young had the balls printed with the words "Bolton European Tour 2005/06 Wanderers".

Erin, who is blind and has cerebral palsy, has been attending Vision Aid for the past year.

Mr Gregson said: "The support we have received from Vision Aid has been invaluable.

"Without them, I don't know where we would be. They have loaned us various equipment to stimulate our daughter's sight."

Although family commitments mean Mr Gregson cannot make tonight's match, he will be cheering for the Wanderers on television.

Supporters started travelling to Portugal yesterday.

A Wanderers spokeswoman said: "The amount of fans travelling helps the Wanderers to get through the stages, they are like the 12th man on the pitch."