By GORDON SHARROCK FAME is no longer a fantasy for Bolton's cult commentator Dave 'Ding Dong' Higson.

The Voice of Burnden, sacked when Wanderers reached the heady heights of the Premiership, has been promoted to celebrity status by securing a regular slot on TV's Fantasy Football programme.

Now his famous "Ding-Dong-Do!" catchphrase is to be heard on every Football League ground in the country.

Endsleigh, the League's sponsors, have signed up the happy Wanderer for a voice over on a national advertising campaign.

"We heard Dave's commentaries on Fantasy Football and thought he'd be fantastic for our motor insurance campaign," said the Burnley-based firm's communications officer Sean Regan.

"We're putting an ad together that will be played at all the Endsleigh League grounds so 'Ding-Dong-Do' is going to be heard on Tannoys all over the country."

Avalon Television, who produce Fantasy Football for BBC 2, have been swamped with fan letters since using sound clips from Wanderers videos featuring the unique commentating style.

Spokesman James Herring confirmed: "We can't say whether we'll use Dave in all the remaining 13 programmes in the current series but he's very, very funny. People really like him and, the way things stand at the moment, it looks like it can run and run.'

The down-to-earth Wanderers fanatic is modest about his new-found fame.

"It's a strange feeling being in big demand," he admits. "People keep asking me if I want a fee but I don't know what to say. I just ask for a couple of Cup Final tickets!"

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.