One for the Super Senior FOC's:
Not someone who many will know but Henry Cockburn from Ashton who played for the Rags was an old bowling mate of my Dad's going back a good few years. My Dad said he was a lovely fella, played cricket for Ashton as well.
He used to go in the Navigation at Dob Cross, the Landlord Ian Gibson said they were going to a footballing Sportsman's dinner in Leeds (probably mid to late 80's from memory) and Henry asked if he could bring a mate along, no problem said Ian saying he'd pay for them both as Cockburn wasn't a wealthy man despite playing pro football including appearances for England. They were meeting at the Navi and getting a coach to the venue. Henry turned up with his mate, Stanley Matthews, the locals were just gobsmacked.
Ian said when they got there, Matthews, Cockburn, Mortenson and others were hugging each other like long lost family, he said it was one of the most emotion things he'd ever seen.