REPUTATIONS were on the line at a star-studded charity football match which raised more than £2,000 for Radcliffe High School.

The school's soccer team of 1970 - 1975 was its most successful and only ever lost one match. But their opponents at Stainton Park on Sunday (Sept 29) were all ex-professionals and they were just as determined to preserve their dignity.

The rivalry, along with the glorious sunshine, ensured a good turn out of spectators.

Stalls, games and raffles all helped swell the coffers and to whet the appetite their was a warm-up match between current staff at the school and Year 11 pupils.

Embarrassingly for the youngsters, their teachers beat them 6-4 and one of the goals was scored by headteacher Graham Rollinson who is unlikely to let them forget it.

But the match everyone was waiting for was between the school's legendary team from the 1970s and the ex-celebrities, which was organised by Mark Barlow.

"I'd always wanted to get the team back together, but people had lost touch. It wasn't until a school reunion last year that we were able to think about organising something like this," he said.

One by one the team members were traced and it was decided to hold a charity football match to help their old school's bid to upgrade its status to become a technical college.

"The first training session we had was great," said Mr Barlow. "It was the first time we'd played together for 27 years. People were plumper and balder but we still gelled together as a team."

Primed and ready to play, all the team needed was an opposing squad, which was where Mr Barlow's friend Wayne Entwistle helped out.

"Wayne used to play for Bury and had a lot of contacts. It was largely thanks to him that so many celebrity footballers agreed to take part.

These included former West Ham player David Cross, Liverpool FC's Alan Kennedy, Steve Johnson who played for Bury, and former Bury player Jamie Hoyland, now a coach at Rochdale.

Tottington's Lisa Riley was the celebrity commentator for the match, but despite her encouragement the team of former pupils were losing 2-0 by half time.

Lisa is pictured blowing the whistle to start the match along with former Liverpool player Alan Kennedy (left), and Brian Leigh from the school's 1975 team.

There was a spark of hope in the second half when Tony McGlynn displayed the talent which made him a legendary goalscorer in his schooldays and landed one in the net.

But by final whistle the score was 8-1.

Mr Barlow was philosophical about the team's crushing defeat.

"To only lose two matches in 32 years is still something of an achievement," he laughed. "We enjoyed ourselves and helped raise a lot of money for our old school."