SOCCER chairman Harry Williams has suddenly become popular -- after 34 years of emptying pubs!

Because such is Harry's commitment to his beloved Ramsbottom United he carries the club's lottery cards wherever he goes to sell to anyone he meets.

It means that, as the old joke goes, whenever anyone sees Harry coming in a pub they run the other way.

So when unsuspecting Terry Fletcher started work alongside Harry last month at Madison Filters in Haslingden, it was a matter of minutes before Harry was persuading his new colleague to buy some cards.

But this time no one's complaining.

Terry's numbers came up and he's won a whopping £1,250 -- enough to pay for his daughter's wedding when she marries next week.

And no one is more delighted than Rammy chairman Harry.

He said: "I've been selling these tickets since 1966 so every time I walk in somewhere everyone else runs out. Terry had only just started at work when I collared him but I'm delighted he's won because he's a nice bloke.

"Maybe people won't be avoiding me from now on."

Harry has been chairman at Ramsbottom United since 1981 and before that was manager for 15 years.

His reputation for managing to sell lottery cards, or Saturday Yankees as they're known, is widespread.

Punters win if their numbers match the first four race winners on Channel Four's Saturday horse racing programme. All the surplus cash raised goes to club funds.

Club secretary John Maher said it normally takes Harry only a matter of minutes to sell a ticket to a stranger.

Mr Maher added: "He sells them to anyone. Terry had only just walked into work when Harry got him to buy a ticket.

"And normally if someone wins a fiver he'll persuade them to have five more tickets instead of the money. But I don't think he'll be doing that this time."

Terry said he was delighted to win the cash.

He added: "I'm glad he asked me to buy them now. My daughter, Alison, is getting married in Clitheroe on June 9 so this will certainly help."