THERE were winners galore at the Bolton and Bury District Football League's presentation evening, with guest appearances by Wanderers stars from the past and present – and perhaps the future.

The league's first winners-only event saw thousands of players, coaches and parents pack into Victoria Hall, where the table-topping sides collected their prizes from Wanderers legend Tony Kelly and the club's star defender and England u21 international, Rob Holding.

With up to seven sections in each age group in the competitive (u12 to u18) ranks there were 28 teams winning titles and each player receiving a trophy, with Holding and Kelly snowed under once the prizegiving was complete with requests for pictures.

League secretary Gary Russell was delighted by the success of the night, and by the season as a whole, in which club and league officials have valiantly battled elements the like of which have not been seen before.

"It has been a wonderful season," said Gary. "Given the weather and the sheer number of postponements, double what you can normally expect which was unprecedented, the reality is that it has been a remarkable achievement to get the season completed.

"For the first time this year we have reduced the trophy outlay by 50 per cent to make it an evening for winners – and we feel it was the right decision – and we had a wonderful turnout on the night, probably the best we have ever had, with all but one of the many section winners represented. All the parents stayed long after their own players had received their trophies.

"We feel the league is currently in a strong position. We have had a 25 per cent increase in those looking to join, which we put down to a good, well-organised and competitive environment, thanks to the hard work of all the club officials, the league committee members and our fantastic chairman, Warren Barlow.

"We are also grateful to Tony and Rob for coming down and being in such good spirits. They posed for photos all night, they were fantastic."