WHEN mascot Ryan Hall walked out on to the Burnden Park turf for his finest moment, his mum thought she was going to miss it all.

The soccer-mad Atherton youngster's mother was certain to miss out on her son's historic appearance in the last game at Burnden - unless a last minute ticket could be found for her.

And it was - FORTY times over!

After the story of her disappointment appeared in The Journal's sister paper, the Bolton Evening News, it proved just the ticket.

So much so that team manager, Colin Todd's wife, Jennifer, was one of the many people to respond to Lorraine's plea.

Junior White Ryan was picked run out alongside Nat Lofthouse at Friday's final match at Burnden Park. But his mother and grandfather had been unable to get hold of tickets to watch him.

They made the last minute plea in the newspaper for help and were overwhelmed when more than 40 people telephoned with offers of help - including Mrs Todd.

Ryan's father, Martin, said: "It was incredible. Lorraine ended up sitting among the best seats in the ground. His grandfather was also given a seat.

"We couldn't believe the response. It made for a fantastic family night out.

"It was very kind of people to respond in the way they did.

"We would like to thank everybody who took the time to telephone us and turn it into a night to remember for the family and for Ryan."

Ryan, who lives in Atherton, is a pupil at St Philip's Primary School and has been a member of the Junior Whites for two years.

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