THEY'RE off and running in the Bolton Combination.

The league, formed in 1890 at the PackHorse Coaching House, is reputed to be the second oldest amateur set-up in the soccer world.

Nowadays it's known simply as The Comb.

And local teams play their part in the annual challenge for silverware.

The Premier Division features Hindsford and Howe Bridge Mills; Atherton S & S and Hindsford Reserves play in the First Division; Howe Bridge Mills Reserves and Atherton C & N grace the Second Division; and in the Alliance you will find Atherton LR Reserves.

They are playing for glittering trophies, too including the Open Cup.

That was donated to the league in 1972, originally having been named the Bolton Hospital Charity Cup - first winners in 1882.

Early season results - HB Mills 3 (Sam Brookes, Darren Sutton 2) Ambassadors 4; Atherton S & S 8 (Pete Donlan 2, Pete Wilde, Simon Hampson 3, Stephen Hennis 2) Turton 2, Mitchell Shackleton 4 Hindsford AFC Res 1 (Mark Haslam); Astley Bridge 1 HB Mills Res 3 (Paul White 2, Wayne Sankey); Atherton LR Res 3 (L Trow, S Hilton, C Entwistle) Ashton United Res 2; Runcorn Res 2 Atherton LR 3, Atherton LR Res 1 (Winwood) Flixton Res 3; Atherton LR Res 0 Chorley Res 2.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.