THIS group of photographs reflects part of the sports career of former local businessman Gordon Eckersley.

Gordon's son Jonathan loaned the pictures to me, and Gordon telephoned from his home in Spain to answer what questions he could about them.

Gordon worked with his father in a family livestock haulage firm, Samuel Eckersley and Son on St Helens Road, for many years.

But it was his sporting prowess that saw him regularly appear in the Bolton Evening News.

Gordon told me he played tennis, badminton and football regularly, then switched from football to Rugby Union.

He was also into amateur dramatics, appearing with former Bolton Evening News editor Les Gent. At 81, he still takes part in am dram in Spain, as well as cycling regularly.

The top photograph shows Gordon's football club, Bolton Wyrsdale, setting off on a trip to Denmark. Seeing them off is Bolton Wanderers hero Nat Lofthouse.

Gordon was not able to date any of the photographs, because he had a very busy time of it. For instance, his badminton team, Bolton County Grammar School Old Students, won the league and cups for quite a few years! He also played in a lot of tennis tournaments at Darley Park, Farnworth.