WARWICK Rimmer is “humbled” by the opportunity to see his two beloved clubs face each other in his testimonial game next week.

Part of an exclusive 500-club at Wanderers, the former club captain had a distinguished career at Burnden Park which spanned three decades, culminating in the 1972/73 Division Three championship.

After a spell in coaching with Crewe and Sierra Leone, plus a stint in the commercial office at Bolton to help the Lifeline lottery get off the ground, he settled at Tranmere, who host Phil Parkinson’s side at Prenton Park on Tuesday, kick off 7.45pm.

Birkenhead-born, Rimmer’s work in establishing the youth system at Tranmere helped the club push to the fringes of the Premier League – propelling the likes of Alan Rogers, Jason Koumas, Kenny Irons, Steve Simonsen, Danny Coyle, Joe Murphy and Clint Hill to fine professional careers.

Both Wanderers and Tranmere – who are now in the National League – have fallen on hard times in recent years compared to their heyday. But Rimmer is looking forward to what is always a hard-fought encounter.

“It’s funny to see that the two clubs who have been such a part of my life have become rivals in recent years,” he told The Bolton News. “I’m honoured, humbled, that Tranmere have put a testimonial on for me and I’m sure it will be a great game.

“I remember signing for Bolton, who at that time were filled with England internationals like Nat Lofthouse, Tommy Banks, Harold Hassall, Willie Moir and Doug Holden.

“When I was asked by Peter Johnson (the then-Tranmere chairman) to start a youth system at Tranmere Rovers I had second thoughts because I’d worked in the commercial side at Bolton and at Prenton Park and, to be honest, it was a steady job.

“But we enjoyed a lot of success, made the club money, but also established players who made up 40-50 per cent of a good team at the time.”

* Fans can pay on the turnstile on Tuesday night. Tickets will be £10 for adults, £7 for seniors (65+), young persons (18-22) and disabled, £5 for under-18s and £2 for u14s.