FORMER members of a championship winning football team reunited at their club after more than four decades, thanks to the efforts of a much loved coach.

The long over due gathering, held at Walshaw Sports Club, was organised by David Harrity, aged 68, from Brandlesholme, who coached teams in the borough during the 1960s and 70s.

Mr Harrity recently spent a lengthy spell in hospital, where was cared for by a doctor and nephew of former England and Manchester United midfielder Nobby Stiles.

The pair began regularly talking about the sport with Mr Harrity reminiscing about his time coaching teams including two years at Walshaw Sport's Club, where over two seasons the team netted four trophy wins against the odds.

As the memories came flooding back Mr Harrity decided he would try to get the players back together again.

Mr Harrity said that the reunion had brought back a lot of memories, adding: "It felt great to get back together. I'm dead chuffed that so many people have come after so many years. The last time we were together was in 1974.

"They went from a group of lads playing in a carpark to go on an win trophies.

"That was such an achievement because they did it simply because they wanted to play."

Mr Harrity joined Walshaw Sports Club shortly after its formation, in the early 1970s, folowing the merger of Walshaw Football and Cricket Clubs.

There was little organised youth football in the area at the time, and Mr Herrity, along with fellow coach Les Knowles, was persuaded to start a team.

After holding their first kickabouts on a field, the club entered teams into the Bury and Ramsbottom Youth Leagues  eventually leading to success and silverware.

One former player at the reunion, Steve Barlow, from Tottington, now aged 60, said: "It's absolutely superb to be here today and to thank Dave [Harrity] for everything he has done in the past and in the present, getting us all together.

He added: "I came to Walshaw with a friend who said he was playing for a junior team, in the 1970s, and it all went from there.

"And as we have remembered those were great times, and we all became close friends in a great team which came from nothing."

To mark the reunion the former players who had travelled from near and far watched one of the current Walshaw junior teams and current second XI play two football matches.

They also enjoyed a buffet and get together in the Walshaw clubhouse.

Peter Conray, another former player, also from Tottington and aged 60, said: "It has been a really great experience seeing everyone again ­— some I have stayed in touch with and some who have come a great distance.

"It's also brilliant to reminisce about the old times and see where everyone has gone. Hopefully we will stay in contact with everybody."