A MAN is appealing for information about amateur football in the region after uncovering a 1929 cutting from the Radcliffe Times.

Peter Dunn, aged 72, a retired oil rig technician from Norwich, found the cutting while looking through his father's old newspaper collection.

The article tells the story of two young football players, Peter's father Harry Dunn and George Mercer, who sustained injuries in a match during the Warth U.M. Football Club Medal Competition.

Mr Dunn playing for Hampson Mill Juniors ruptured a kidney leaving him "seriously ill" in Salford Royal Hospital, and Mr Mercer playing for Warth U.M. sustained a double leg fracture.

The report said: "These accidents were not the outcome of rough play, but were met with the simplest manner imaginable."

Following the injuries a benefit match was arranged between Warth U.M., described at the time as "Spencer Cup finalists and prospective League champions", and an eleven from the medal competition teams, with the report adding: "A good game is therefore assured."

The report also said that Hampson Mill were trying to arrange something to support Mr Dunn, and hoped for public support for the "very deserving cause."

Mr Dunn's son Peter is now appealing for information from anyone "who may know a little about the history of local football and the firms that they were playing for, to throw some light on this newspaper cutting which dad kept all his life."

Harry Dunn, his son said, was born in Chorlton Workhouse in 1907 to a single mother, and was adopted by the Ward family who lived at 1 Thatch Lane, Besses O' Th' Barn.

Mr Dunn said: "My dad told me that he worked in a warehouse, a 1d tram ride away, he never spoke about football, preferring cricket.

"He must have made a full recovery as he was A1 when called up for war service as RAF ground crew.

"It was there that he met my mum Margerie, known as Bunty, a London girl, and they married in Besses O' Th' Barn in 1943 before he was posted to North Africa.

"After the war they moved into her father's house in London, from where on a Saturday he would cycle to the local football ground of Leyton Orient.

"After the war he trained to be a school teacher and lived in Harlow. He died in 1966."

Mr Dunn added: "The newspaper cutting was among some papers that my mum had kept and I was not aware of it until a few months ago.

"Dad kept in touch with his family, and every week one of the family would send him the local paper with a comic for me."

Mr Dunn has asked anyone with information about the story or local football during the period to contact him on 01603464427 or peter.dunn25@yahoo.com.