CHILDHOOD memories don't come much sweeter than stepping onto the pitch at Ewood Park at the tender age of 11.

So when former Blackburn schoolboy Brian Dixon appealed for his teammates, who together held aloft the Jubilee Shield at Ewood Park almost 50 years ago, to get in touch, it didn't come as a surprise that almost all of them did.

And they all want to rekindle their memories of a glorious day too.

The St James Primary School team of 1953, who say they scored 99 goals on their way to victory in the schools' contest, aim to get together almost half a century on.

Goalkeeper Brian Dixon, who now lives in Peterborough, appealed through the Lancashire Evening Telegraph last month to track down his teammates and all but one have been traced for a get together in May next year, when it will be 50 years since their winning day.

The one member of the team who has not been traced is Steven Walker.

The team consisted of Brian Curwen, Alan Ashton, Kevin Pomfret, Brian Dixon, Steven Walker, Kevin McCrae, Michael Glaister, Geoffrey Blackburn, Barrie Ratcliffe, Ronnie Spencer and Raymond Pickering.

Winning goal scorer Michael Glaister is now a retired accountant and lives in Chester. He said: "I can remember every minute of that game."

Although he came from a footballing family, with his father George Glaister playing for Rovers in the 1940s and 50s, he didn't choose to go into the profession himself. But Rovers is still in his blood and he regularly goes to watch games.

He added: "I remember, after I scored the winning goal, Geoff Blackburn came to kiss me, but bashed my nose, and gave me a nosebleed. I don't suppose he'd want to be reminded of that now."

The winning streak which led the team to victory in the Jubilee Shield in 1953, saw the boys play 15 games, win 14, lose one and score a staggering 99 goals, Michael said.

Alan Ashton, who now lives in Blackpool, said he still has a copy of the team photograph and his winners' medal.

He said he could remember the whole team, and still had fond memories of the game and of Ewood Park.

He said: "My father worked for the Telegraph all his life and on Saturdays in the early 1950's he used to man the one and only telephone situated underneath the Nuttall Street stand, and he got me the little boy's job of sitting at the top of the ladder up to the press box (just above the players' tunnel) and running down to him every so often with the journalists' copy as they wrote it.

"Now things have come full circle, I have been an 'executive' steward at the Rovers' for the last few years and currently work -- in the press lounge!"

Others who have been traced are Brian Curwen, who now lives in Oswaldtwistle; Raymond Pickering and Geoff Blackburn, who both live in Rishton; Kevin Pomfret, who lives in the West Midlands, and Kevin McCrae, who now lives in Mellor.

Captain Barrie Ratcliffe, of Langho, said: "I went on to play for Rovers, but I had been interested in football for a long time, before that match. It was a good season and a good match."

Barrie made 50 appearances for Rovers in the 1960s and was a member of the FA Youth Cup winning side of 1959.

Organiser Brian Dixon said: "It is so exciting, I can't help getting excited about how many have been traced.

"All of them are up for a reunion and think it's a terrific idea. This reunion will, I'm sure, be something to remember along with our memories of the 1953 match."

If you can help trace the last member of the team contact the LET newsdesk on 01254 298318.