A MAN who helped arrange for a blue plaque to commemorate the first goal ever scored in league football in Bolton has now helped create a short documentary honouring volunteers from the town who fought in the Spanish Civil War.

In 2016, a small blue plaque was fitted on to the front of a building in Bankfield Street, off Deane Road, to commemorate where Bolton Wanderers’ Kenny Davenport scored against Derby County at 3.47pm on Saturday September 8, 1888 — the first goal ever scored in league football anywhere in the world.

Mark Metcalf has now helped produce a short film on the work of Bolton Socialist Club to commemorate James Alwyn, who fought fascism in Spain and lost his life at the Battle of Jarama in February 1937.

The film is titled ¡No Pasarán!- a phrase meaning "they shall not pass", which was used as a rallying cry against fascist forces.

Mark, a Sunderland-based author and football historian, said: "The war in Spain from 1936 to 1939 was the forerunner to the larger fight against fascism in World War II from 1939 to 1945.

"Bolton’s James Alwyn recognised the dangers and he was willing to go and fight on the side of democracy in Spain and he paid for his bravery with his life.

"When I found out the Bolton Socialist Club had honoured him with a plaque, I though it would be good to let a wider audience know and this short documentary aims to do that."

The seven-minute film, created by Rough Jersey Productions, features interviews with local councillor Martin McMulkin and Lisa Croft, whose grandfather Archie Williams also fought at Jarama.

It also provides a background on the war, which caused huge turmoil in Europe in the inter-war years.

The film can be watched on Rough Jersey's Vimeo account by clicking here.