25 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, September 30, 1972

TELEVISION and the car were the main reasons for the drop in football attendance, Mr Eldon Griffiths, the Minister of Sport, said today. Violence was only partially to blame, he said. 'I think that violence has been helping to keep people away from matches, but I do not think it is the main factor. What I think it does is to lead some parents not to take their children to a match, but to other activities. Also some older people stay away.'

50 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, October 1, 1947

BOLTON Libraries' Committee was today accused of giving municipal honours to Mussolini by accepting a gift of a bust and two plaques of the Fascist leader. It was suggested that if these souvenirs were placed in the Museum or the Art Gallery, women of the town would avenge this insult to those who had died in Italy by tearing them out of their setting, or by 'tarring and feathering them.' In view of the feeling engendered, the Council decided that the gift should not be accepted.

125 YEARS AGO

From the Evening News, October 1, 1872

CHOWBENT ATHLETIC FESTIVAL

On Saturday last, the first annual Chowbent athletic sports were held in a field belonging to Mr Taylor, situate a short distance from Market-street, and although the weather for several days previously was most unfavourable, the festival is looked upon as a most decided success. The ground leading to the grandstand was nearly ankle deep in mud, but not withstanding this drawback many of the fair ones wended their way to the stand to have a commanding view of the races. The ring, too, round which the pedestrians ran, was very muddy in different parts, which made the running very heavy indeed. Taking all things into consideration, the promoters of the sports have no cause to regret the undertaking, for there were 190 entries for the 15 events.

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