A CURRENT trend for retro fashion has given a Rossendale footwear manufacturer a welcome boost as it celebrates its centenuary this year.

Rawtenstall-based Gola, the brand name on almost every child's first pair of football boots, has seen a massive revival in recent years thanks to retro-styling fashion.

The '70s favoured brand has since launched a come back and seen itself promoted into fashion's Premiership.

And with the world's fashion icons like Paris Hilton spotted sporting Gola boots, its popularity is as big as ever.

The man behind the brand, former Oldham market stall holder Harvey Jacobson, is celebrating its success with a number of centenary milestone activities.

The 49-year-old managing director of the Bacup Road-based Jacobson Group, which took over the brand nine years ago, has seen his empire grow into the internationally renowned multi-million pound corporation it is today.

The shrewd businessman has seen sales rocket -- with with profits at the Jacobson Group rising from £148,000 in 1996 to £2.54million as of September 30, 2003, and with Gola contributing to 50 per cent of profits.

And in light of the brand's success combined with its 100th anniversary, company bosses decided to produce 100 limited pairs of Harriers -- one of the brand's best recognised trainers and also create a centenary book.

Mr Jacobson said: "Gola has been an amazing asset for the company as over the years the brand has gone from strength to strength.

"Gola sells to more than 60 countries and is particularly popular in Japan and Germany. Overseas the people tend to love all things British."

Gola started life in 1905 as part of a small family business called Joseph Leeson and Son.

The brand was at the height of success in the 1970s -- which brought celebrity endorsement from Olympian shotputter Geoff Capes and boxer Alan Minter.

But from the late 1980s Gola had a succession of owners which saw it fall off the tracks while sportswear giants Nike and Adidas grew in stature.

It was in 1996 that Rawtenstall's Jacobson Group came to the rescue and bought Gola for an undisclosed sum.

The turning point for the brand came in 1999, when Gola took its relaunched 1968 Harrier trainer to a trade show which saw it catch the wave of retro nostalgia.

But even with its rise in popularity, instead of branching out its warehouses to bigger cities, the company says its heart lies firmly in Rossendale.

Mr Jacobson said: "The Rossendale valley has a long association with the footwear industry and there are still a number of firms located here.

"Leaving Rawtenstall would be a hard tie to break as we have easy access to the motorway which allows for effective distribution, which is vital to us and avoids the hassle of a major city."

He added: "I am confident that with 100 years behind the group that its rich heritage could see Gola last for another century."