TROPHIES: Olivia Payton, 10 and April Smith, 10, with Padiham FC commercial manager Bob Clark, town Mayor Coun Maureen Whittaker, Ann Clark, archivist, sports club secretary Alan Smith and ex-Clarets striker Andy Payton
A TOWN'S sporting life - from champion weightlifters to a unique footballing quartet - were laid bare in a photo exhibition.
The great and the good were remembered in a display staged as part of the 60th anniversary celebration for the Arbories sports ground in Padiham.
Padiham was home to four footballing prodigies from the Bradshaw family.
Former Padiham FC player Billy Bradshaw, part of one of the first successful Blackburn Rovers sides, won four England caps.
His brothers Vic, Jack and Ernie played for Blackpool, Accrington Stanley and Burnley, around the dawn of the 20th century.
Billy was a half-back in the first side to bring the old Football League trophy back to Ewood Park in 1911-12.
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The achievements of sport-smen and women from all walks of life were remembered at the Padiham Town Hall showcase.
Padiham sports club chair-man Alan Smith said the gathering was a chance for players to renew old acqu-aintances. He said: "People would look at the exhibits relating to their particular sport - then see someone across the room who they had not met for 30 or 40 years."
LOOKING BACK: Bob Clark with photos of himself at the age of 16 when he was a champion weightlifter in 1960-61
Former Clarets legend Andy Payton, who is from Padiham, was one of the sporting guests.
And town councillor Bob Clark, a keen weightlifter who won Olympic honours, was also there. His wife Ann is an archivist who helped to make the exhibition possible.
Two relics of Padiham's sporting past were on hand for glory hunters - including the Padiham and District League trophy and the Padiham FC Cup, which was contested by works teams in 1898.
The Arbories was created following the Second World War as part of moves to re-establish sport in Padiham.
For the last 60 years the ground - intended as a living tribute to the 54 local men who lost their lives in the conflict - has been overseen by officials from Padiham Sports Club and been home to the town's cricket and football clubs.
The exhibition was staged following a £4,000 grant from the North West Development Agency and Padiham Life.
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