Now it’s Sam Ale-ardyce! (From The Bolton News)

Now it’s Sam Ale-ardyce!

4:55pm Thursday 29th June 2006 in

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FOOTBALL fans in Bolton already know it, and now pub-goers are drinking to it.

When it came to replacing Sven as England boss, it "Should've Been Sam".

That is the name of a new beer being sold in the town's watering holes in honour of "Big" Sam Allardyce, who missed out on the England post last month.

Bank Top Brewery have put the brew which punters are simply calling "Sam" on sale in 15 Bolton pubs, including three in the town centre, for the duration of the football World Cup.

The brewery, initially made four barrels of the special beer.

But they have already had to make an extra 400 pints to meet growing demand.

The Wanderers boss was among the favourites to take over the job of England manager when Sven-Goran Eriksson stands down at the end of the World Cup, but he was pipped to the post by Middlesbrough boss Steve MacClaren.

But drinkers in Bolton are still firmly behind Sam if the rate at which they have taken to the new bitter is anything to go by.

Dave Sweeney, co-owner of Bank Top Brewery, which is famed for special brews including Flat Cap, in honour of Fred Dibnah, and Samuel Crompton's Ale, said the name of the new beer summed up feelings in the town over the appointment.

He added: "We've had rave reviews for Should've Been Sam'. People believe Sam Allardyce should have got the job, so the drink's just selling itself.

"All the pubs that have taken it on have been making repeat orders."

Brewery bosses, who had only planned to keep the four per cent volume draft flowing until the end of the World Cup on Sunday, July 9, are now considering keeping it on permanently. The brew has lined up alongside Bank Top's other World Cup 2006 beer which is named Life's a Pitch.

Ben Roberts, manager of Barristers Bar in Bradshawgate, which sells a range of Bank Top ales, has ordered 54 gallons of the beer so far.

He said: "The name sold it to us in the first place and now we've sold a lot of the beer very quickly.

"It's a nice draft and has gone down well here. We'd be happy to take it on as a regular beer."