TURTON football ground has been included alongside world-famous stadiums in a book listing British football’s greatest grounds.

The book, ‘British Football’s Greatest Grounds - One Hundred Must-See Football Venues’ ,has been a hit with football enthusiasts and rapidly sold out online over the festive period.

Written by Mike Bayly, the book includes a bucket list of places to watch football in England, Wales and Scotland.

Turton is the stomping ground of the Old Boltonians Association Football Club (OBAFC) and could be the oldest in the world, dating back to 1830.

Mike used information from a public vote featured on talkSPORT, the BBC Radio 5 Non-League Football Show, the Football Association website and hundreds of club programmes to help compile his list.

Richard Morris, OBAFC chairman, said Mike visited the ground around three years ago and they didn’t think much of his visit at the time.

He said: “Someone came over to our groundsman - David Lee - and said he was working on the book and was asking a lot of questions about the ground and its history. We didn’t hear much again until a few weeks ago when the book was published. It sold out and was re-published.

“I have already shown a couple of people and they don’t believe me. It is quite the accolade but it’s also one that won’t go away. People will still be reading the book three or four years down the line, so it’s something that will always be with us. I just can’t believe it’s happened.”

From it’s position in Tower Street, Chapeltown, Richard said the ground “feels like it’s in the heart of football”, as it is overlooks original football league teams such as Preston, Burnley, Blackburn and Bolton.

Richard said the inclusion should benefit all of Bolton, as it recognises a historic ground and will encourage people to come to the area.