A MISSING player in the reunion of a junior school team from the 1950s has been traced to Canada after an appeal in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

Although many of the football team from Audley Primary School, Blackburn, still live locally they were missing one player to reunite the full squad after 50 years.

Francis Edwards is the only player not to have kept in touch with the team, who were not allowed to enter the Jubilee Cup a tournament open to all schools because they were too good.

But after an appeal in the Telegraph, Mel Widdop, who is trying to organise the reunion was inundated with calls about his long lost team mate.

Mel, of Ramsgreave Road, Blackburn said: "I couldn't believe how many calls I got. I have got his telephone number and his email address. I hope to contact him over the next few days. I don't want to ring because of the time delay. But I will email him soon.

"It is amazing he has been found so quickly. I am really pleased. Now we can go ahead and have the reunion all together. It won't be for a while though. The team are quite spread out."

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

Some went on to play as professionals including Audley's captain, Alan Bradshaw, who played for Blackburn Rovers, Mel Widdop, who played for Accrington Stanley and Harry Lighthouse, who coached Clitheroe.

Mel, now 64 added:"I am so grateful of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph for helping me reunite the best team Blackburn ever saw after such a long time."