THE picture of the Bolton Under-15s town from 1986 printed recently evoked memories, not least from former player Alan Tonge.

Not only did he recall those days, the player pictured on the right of the front row next to former Manchester City and Blackburn midfielder Garry Flitcroft still has his shirt from 32 years ago.

Boltonian Tonge, who went on to play as a junior at Manchester United and professionally for Exeter City before a back injury curtailed his career at just 24 years of age, sent in a picture of the shirt he was wearing in the photograph and said: "That’s the actual shirt from the Bolton town team photo in The Bolton News – I’ve kept it safe."

He was not the only reader to get in touch either.

Former town team coach Dave Price, now working at Manchester United's academy, also got in touch.

He said: "I wasn’t involved with the town team when the picture with Brian Atherton (County Grammar) and Rod Cox (Westhoughton High School) – the team manager – was taken.

"I was teaching at Breightmet/County Grammar then and knew Brian in our school teams.

"He went on to join BWFC as a YTS player.

"Last week’s picture was the pre-season photo of the team that later that season went to Paderborn – which was covered extensively in The Bolton News recently.

"Mickey Pollitt (Thornleigh), Garry Flitcroft (Turton), Ryan Kidd (Sharples), Neil Howarth (Canon Slade) and captain Paul Sixsmith (Turton) all had careers in pro football with Paul becoming a full international for Malta.

"Sean Whorlow (Burnley), Neil Hart (BWFC), Steve Slater (Port Vale) and Alan Tonge (Man United) all joined pro clubs as YTS players – it was a very strong and successful town team.

"Jason Nash (Smithills) returned to not only teach PE at his old school but also took the town team for several seasons in the late 1990s."