The drinks are on us, say thankful North

To celebrate their successful season back in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League’s top flight after winning promotion last year, Trafford’s official are offering fans a free pint on Saturday before they take on Stafford Rangers.

As a ‘big thank you’ to their loyal supporters, the North say all paying adults and season ticket holders, including those admitted as concessions, can claim a free pint at the bar at Shawe View before their penultimate home game of the Premier Division campaign.

Ladies attending the Easter Saturday clash will be offered a suitable alternative if required while children can enjoy a free hot dog courtesy of the club.

Trafford are also looking forward to staging their latest ‘Sportsman’s Dinner’ next Friday night at Flixton Golf Club. Tickets for the event, featuring guest speak Fred Eyre and comedian Billy Dean, are priced at £30.

Eyre has long been a popular speaker on the after dinner entertainment circuit. Born in Manchester, he played as a wing half after kicking off his career as an apprentice at Manchester City where he cleaned boots of his playing heroes, including Bert Trautmann and Denis Law.

Eyre was Manchester City's first ever apprentice and later went on to play in Non-League at a total of 20 clubs including Oswestry Town, Rossendale United, New Brighton, Ellesmere Port, Radcliffe Borough and Chadderton.

Now aged 70, he returned to League Football briefly during the 1969–70 season to sign for Bradford Park Avenue and later played for Wigan Athletic.