THE ANNUAL PETER CATTERALL MEMORIAL TROPHY CHALLENGE MATCH.

Club officials at Ashton Athletic FC and the Wigan Athletic FC Past Players Association are more than delighted to announce a new annual fixture.

Following the sad passing of the Wigan Athletic Past Players chairman and the Supporters Club treasurer, Peter Catterall earlier this year, it was decided to honour his memory with the advent of the 'Peter Catterall Memorial Trophy'.

On Wednesday night the veterans from both Clubs took to the field at Ashton’s Brocstedes Park Ground and it was the Wigan Athletic's past players that won the inaugural event, running out 2-1 winners.

PAST PLAYERS WIN THE PETER CATTERALL MEMORIAL TROPHY

Past Players Graham Barrow, Dave Glenn and Barry Knowles accept the trophy with Ashton’s Jimmy Whyte looking on.

Last year Peter 'the cat' Catterall had helped to organise a 'one off' game to celebrate Ashton Athletic's return to the North West Counties League after a twenty year absence. It was Peter's pleasure at that time to organise a motley crew of Latics old boys who let him down badly by getting hammered 6-2!

Peter sadly passed away in the summer but his friends in Ashton and Wigan decided that a trophy should be competed for annually in his honour. This was a fitting tribute to a larger than life character who will be remembered for a long time to come, and has been sadly missed at the JJB Stadium this season.

It was sweet revenge for the WAPPA lads as Tony Kelly and Stuart Barlow sealed the win, either side of a superb equalising strike by Jimmy Whyte, rolling back the years for Ashton.

Other faces on show for Wigan were Peter Atherton, David Lowe, Graham Barrow, Phil Critchley, Dave Glenn, Barry Knowles, David Lowe, Kevin Langley, Tommy Gore, Gary Bennett, Noel Ward, David Hamilton and several more of the glorious players from the past who are all now a lot older and wider!

The event was also an opportunity for Ashton to raise money on behalf of former player at the Club, Danny Pond who at 19 years old has regrettably been diagnosed with Cancer. Donations on the night and the proceeds from a collection in the crowd will allow a cheque approaching £500 to be presented to Danny.

Thanks to our friends at YOTAC upon whose match report this article is based, and who provided the photograph.