ORGANISERS of one of Lancashire football's most enduring knockout competitions, Bury's Myles N. Kenyon Cup, are looking to find the oldest surviving medal holder.

Whether a winner, runners-up or match official, the recipient of the honour will be invited to be VIP at this year's final which will be played between Radcliffe Town and Tottington United at Bury FC's Gigg Lane ground.

Since the 1921-22 season, when Dumers Lane were the inaugural winners, and in the intervening years, the competition has been something of a holy grail for the town's Saturday-playing amateur clubs.

However, spiralling rises in pitch fees, the growth of small-sided football and player apathy have all contributed to hit local football hard and with the gradual closure of the Bury Amateur League, Bury Sunday Schools' League and Radcliffe Amateur League the competition fell by the wayside.

That said, but for the financial support of Albany International who continued to back the competition following their takeover of the James Kenyon & Son Ltd textile concern, the competition would have folded years ago and it is their ongoing support that has encouraged the Kenyon Cup committee to resurrect it.

After one season off the footballing calendar, the competition kicked off again in late July last year when 16 local teams entered.

Its re-birth as a pre-season tournament will hopefully help the famous old competition go from strength to strength and organisers are looking for more clubs from the Bury and surrounding districts to take part in this year's event.

Anyone wanting further details about the competition, who may have the oldest surviving medal or knows someone who might, should contact Kenyon Cup secretary Paul Dugdale on 01204 884547.