THE weekly sporting nostalgia section continues to rekindle fond memories for readers of The Bolton News.

None more so than an archive photograph of Old Haywardians B Team from 1968 which was featured in the November 1 edition.

Promotions manager at Bolton Wanderers, Andrew Dean, could not believe his eyes when he noticed his younger self in the sports pages as part of that team.

He said it brought back lots of memories of team-mates he still keeps in touch with almost 50 years on.

Dean told The Bolton News: "I was a nice surprise to see the team photo while eating my cornflakes.

"The team are, back, from left, Dave Gibbons, me, Alan McKnight, Norman Atkinson, Mick Lever, Trevor Culf, Ian Hamill, front, Steve Hepworth, John McCann, Dave Callaghan, Kevin McMinn and Geoff Knox.

"We played all our home games at Hayward Schools on a Saturday afternoon (now Essa) in the Bolton Boys' Federation, known as the 'FED' or 'Boys Fed'.

"It was established in 1923 so any Bolton and district born player who made the professional ranks would have come through the FED, like Nat Lofthouse.

"Two boys who we played against often in the FED before they made it were Don McCallister at Bolton and Alan Ainscow at Blackpool.

"We had great facilities at Hayward like proper changing rooms and hot showers, unlike the council pitches of a green wooden hut and one cold water tap.

"Our manager was a man called Fred Duckworth who had been running teams in the Bolton Boys' Federation for many years.

"Second from left on the front row is John McCann – uncle to current Wanderers coach Gavin McCann.

"John's dad had a pub at Moses Gate then bought a club in Blackpool. I think they moved there in 1969 – Gavin's dad would only have been about 13 at the time.

"Of the 12 players, I still see a few of them bringing their families to the Wanderers and after being at Bolton now for 24 years it's still football we always talk about.

"Dave Callaghan has passed away and I heard goalkeeper Norman Atkinson had as well but maybe someone else may comment on that as I cannot confirm.

"The Buff used to put a local team photo in every Saturday during the football season.

"I remember we were told a photographer was coming so make sure we brought our match kit to training.

"He turned up on our training night which was held in the school gym.

"Every so often, Fred Duckworth arranged for Eddie Hopkinson to come along and take training sessions.

"I have great memories of a good group of mates from days gone by."

Another member of that team, Trevor Culf, also got in touch after the picture was published and said: "My friend, Jeff Nock, told me about the photograph being in The Bolton News.

"The team was under-18 Old Haywards FC and the picture was taken a week before the quarter-final of the Lancashire Junior Shield when we played against Preston and lost 2-1."