BIG Sam and Jay Jay danced, Super John kept his nerve from the spot, Campo swaggered, Kevin Davies flattened a full-back and Ian Evatt claimed the match-ball – in many ways, it was the perfect Sunday afternoon at the UniBol.

Legends old and new took to the pitch in front of more than 13,000 supporters to celebrate just what a fantastic football club Bolton Wanderers really is… but that was only half the story.

The reason this game has been pulled together was to help one of our own, Gethin Jones, whose mother Karen was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in July.

Put quite simply, had Jones been playing a few years ago at Bolton, this match would never have happened.

But these days the club is on a different path, one infinitely more positive. This is a place where the owner and chairman, Sharon Brittan, spent Saturday and Sunday making sure Mrs Jones was comfortable, and that the family had everything they needed.

Speaking after the game, Jones sent a message to those who had helped to organise the event and those who have dug deep to fund it, with 25 per cent of all proceeds going to the Darby Rimmer Foundation – set up by ex-Bolton defender Stephen Darby to campaign for more funding into MND research and treatment.

“I just want to say to everyone ‘thank-you so much’ – it has been amazing to see the support we have been given over the last three or four months, but today, for everyone to back us in the way they have, there are no words for it,” he said.

“I know it is nice for the supporters to see some of their favourite players, the legends, and that was for them.

“But on behalf of the family I just want to thank everyone, it has meant a lot.

“I was told last night that it was getting close to 10,000 and might go over if with pay-on-the-gate and when I arrived at 11am they said they might have to put kick-off back 15 minutes because so many people were walking in.

“To get to 13,000 is just incredible. It is over-whelming. The whole family is made up and there were about 80 of us here, but it was just great for my mum to see the support she is getting from everyone. I just want to thank everyone.

“The whole club, the staff, my team-mates, everyone at the hotel, they have been excellent. I am chuffed to bits for my mum, really.

“We need to get the treatment sorted in Boston asap, really, so on November 23 we’ll have the consultation and we are just trying to get the flights out.

“She will be out there for three or four days and then we will take it from there.”

Jones walked out with his family before the game for a photo and his mum was able to watch as he was beckoned on to the pitch to kick things off.

“Stelios had mentioned it to me, but I’d forgot with organising everything,” he said after the game.

“When it started I’d sat down and I could hear Xav (Amaechi) shouting ‘Geth come on!’ “I’m like ‘what’s the matter?’ But to go out there and start the game, kick the first ball, it was a special touch.

“It has happened at a perfect time for us, 100 per cent.”

The score, 7-4 to the modern-day Wanderers, is hardly relevant. This was a Greatest Hits that couldn’t help but bring a smile to the most cynical of supporters’ lips.

Ivan Campo retuned to the ground for the first time since 2008 and was lucky to make kick-off after being swarmed by autograph hunters at the front of the stadium.

To see the Spaniard hold court in the middle of the pitch once again was worth the entrance fee alone, and there was a magical moment in the second half when he evaded the clutches of Bolton boss Evatt snapping at his heels, then turned around with accusatory wagging finger.

Ricardo Gardner – now back in the UK and hoping to help his son start a footballing career – burned up and down the left wing like he had never been away.

Jussi Jaaskelainen rolled back the years with a couple of lovely saves, one from Xav Amaechi evoking memories of that incredible effort at Old Trafford.

And Kevin Davies, after patrolling the front line all day, gave us a moment to remember as he clattered into Liam Gordon Patrice Evra-style, and earned a yellow card to pantomime boos from the crowd.

But it was the day’s opening goal that topped them all, as Okocha rolled in a penalty past Matt Gilks, jogged to the side-line to greet Sam Allardyce, and repeated their famous dance shuffle, circa Middlesbrough 2003.

Of course, the modern-day Wanderers were not for being embarrassed. They took the game at a canter, an extended training exercise, but we still got to see a few flashes of skill from Xav Amaechi which bode well for the coming weeks.

If Bolton are struggling for a number 10, perhaps a thought should be given for the up-and-comer, Evatt, who scored with his first touch and then added another two goals inside 15 minutes.

The manager took the match-ball and gave it to young fan Jack Storey after the final whistle, a generous act very much in keeping with the mood of the day.

The goals rattled in left, right and centre in the second half. Not that the score-line really mattered.

The eye-catching Chris Eagles came off the bench for the Legends to score a couple and suggest at the age of 35, his playing days might not be done.

Kevin Davies got a moment he won’t forget as his son, Lucas, replaced him in the second half – no doubt bringing a tear to the eye of his watching mum, Emma.

And we also saw the sons of Okocha and Stelios come on to add some extra energy on the same pitch they were once paraded on their dads’ shoulders.

But he last word on this perfect day of nostalgia and optimism came from arguably the biggest Bolton legend of them all, John McGinlay, who rolled in a dead-eyed penalty to the delight of the crowd with a few minutes to go.