A JUNIOR school team which was so good that it was banned are to be reunited 50 years on.

But although many of the team from Audley Primary School, Blackburn, still live locally, there is one problem one of the players is missing.

Francis Edwards is the only player not to have kept in touch with the squad who were banned from the Jubilee Cup a tournament open to all local primary schools because they were too good.

The team of 10 year olds was unbeaten in the 1952-53 league, scoring 60 goals in one season and only conceding only two both of these own goals.

The team then split up, with some going to grammar school and others to secondary moderns in the town.

Audley's captain Alan Bradshaw went on to play for Blackburn Rovers from 1960-65 scoring a goal seconds into his debut for the first team at 21.

During his football career, much of which was spent at Crewe Alexandra, Bradshaw also taught PE at Shadsworth Comprehensive School, Blackburn.

After retiring as a player, he coached Blackburn Rovers youth team and managed Great Harwood, Padiham and Clitheroe, which was his last post in 1982.

Another player, Mel Widdop, of Ramsgreave Drive, Blackburn, who is trying to organise the reunion, went on to play as captain for Accrington Stanley, appearing in a total of 209 games.

Mel, now 64, said he wanted to get the whole team together or it was not worth doing it at all. So far he has even traced players from Canada and Spain.

But Francis has not been seen by any of the team, coached surprisingly for the time by a woman, since leaving the Queens Park Road school in 1953.

Mel, of said: "I think Francis went to Blackburn Grammar school after we all left. He was the only one none of us has heard from for years. He was part of the team and we want him there. We haven't even decided what we will do yet. I want to find him first.

"All I remember which might twig people's memory is his parents used to own a grocery shop, in Audley Lane, off Audley Range, in the 50s.

"If anyone knows anything about his whereabouts over the past 50 years it would help. We don't know where to start looking. He could be living round the corner from me for all I know.

"But equally he could be on the other side of the world. We need him there if we can find him."

Anyone who can help can contact Mel on 01254 249386.