THIS week’s sporting nostalgia picture features athletics and a picture brought into The Bolton News offices by reader Dave Kelly.

The photograph is of young athletes from Rivington and Blackrod High School, from the first to fifth year, in 1974.

It was taken at an Inter-Schools Cross Country match and Dave recalls how two years later the runners were crowned Bolton Schools' Cross Country champions.

Dave is on the picture, standing third from the right, while his brother Mike is second from the left seated.

Dave said: "We had a great set of runners and a brilliant coach in Dave Mulligan, who deserved a lot of recognition which he didn't get. His hard work paid off two years later when we won the Bolton Schools' Cross Country Championship."

Do you remember that group or recognise anyone pictured?

Email boltonsport@nqnw.co.uk with any recollections.

THE second picture was part of the sporting nostalgia section on November 29 and is of Atherton Collieries from September 1988.

The information accompanying the picture says the team lined up before beating local rivals Daisy Hill 2-0 in their Bass North West Counties League

clash at Alder House.

Reader Andy Clarke was party of that side and said: "Having played against Colls numerous times for Bolton St Thomas's, mostly when Ian Seddon was player-manager of Colls, I actually played for them that season 1988/89 before returning to play for GMP in the Manchester League and the Police National cups as it was easier to get time off work to play for the force in those days.

"The line-up is, back, from left, Keith Daley, Ian Crook, Graham Hill (Freddy's lad), Stuart Davies, Mike King, myself, Sean Chaisty; front, Lee Rogers, Dave Liptrot, Derek Heaton, Sean Kedward and Shaun Stuart.

"The game was an early-season evening match where we beat Daisy Hill 2-0, with myself and Dave Liptrot scoring the goals."