Mystery photo - Bolton v Unknown feat Alan Gilliver

[Pete’s Picture Palace]

Guys

Here's a really good photo of Bolton keeper Eddie Hopkinson diving in snow to save from the itinerant sixties striker, Alan Gilliver - wearing the No 9 on his shorts and kit that could be all red or all blue. It's a nice large photo with a label on the back describing the action but there's no date and the opponents aren't mentioned - just Gilliver, flat out in the snow - & the keeper.

Bolton's kit suggests late 60's (c 1966-69 per HFK). In that period Gilliver played for:-

Blackburn 1966-8
Rotherham 1968-9
Brighton 1969-71

So can anyone help me narrow it down to a certain winter's day at Burnden Park? All help greatly appreciated, as always.



Thanks in anticipation.

[Ruud Van Driver]

I'd plump for 3/2/1968 with Gilliver playing for Blackburn Pete, but as ever not over confident

When the clubs met 27/3/67 there had not been snowfall. When Bolton played Rotherham 16/3/68 he hadn't yet signed and when Bolton met Brighton 4/12/71 he'd already left for Lincoln

There was snowfall from 3/2/68 to 6/2/68 in the North, this is my sole evidence!


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[Grumpypants]

I concur with Rudd Van Driver. I have the programme....somewhere!! If I could find it, it should give the colours of Blackburn Rovers on the day. As soon as I find it I will let you know, unless someone comes up with something more concrete.

[Pete’s Picture Palace]

Thanks Ruud and also GrumpyP. I bow to your logic and more local knowledge - how did you find out that it snowed up North on those days?

3.2.68 was also my 12th birthday so I'd settle for that, but if Grumpy can find that programme, and perhaps confirm that Gilliver was playing as well as seeing what kit they wore, that would be perfect.

Cheers both!

[Grumpypants]

I know by looking through the 'Complete History Of Blackburn Rovers' book that indeed Gilliver did play at the No 9 position for the match, just a question of 'what colour kit' Blackburn Rovers played in.

[Pete’s Picture Palace]

It all helps, Grumpy. Thank you for checking.

[Ruud Van Driver]

Pete’s Picture Palace wrote:

Thanks Ruud and also GrumpyP. I bow to your logic and more local knowledge - how did you find out that it snowed up North on those days?

Found by accident Pete, thought it would be a good idea to see if there was a website that had a record of snowfall in the UK and found this...

http://www.neforum2.co.uk/ferryhillweather/bonacina.html

Hours of fun for the weather obsessive
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[Pete’s Picture Palace]

Cheers Ruud

I remember cricket being snowed off in June one year - sure enough, website reveals 1st-2nd June 1975 - 4" snow in Scotland, Northern England & East Anglia. I think it was at Derby that the cricket was off, from memory.

Fascinating - if you like that sort of thing!

[GreatBarrWolf]

Pete’s Picture Palace wrote:

Cheers Ruud I remember cricket being snowed off in June one year - sure enough, website reveals 1st-2nd June 1975 - 4" snow in Scotland, Northern England & East Anglia. I think it was at Derby that the cricket was off, from memory. Fascinating - if you like that sort of thing!

Would probably have been a game at Matlock.
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[botanybaykid]

Pete’s Picture Palace wrote:

Cheers Ruud I remember cricket being snowed off in June one year - sure enough, website reveals 1st-2nd June 1975 - 4" snow in Scotland, Northern England & East Anglia. I think it was at Derby that the cricket was off, from memory. Fascinating - if you like that sort of thing!

Derbyshire v Lancashire at Buxton 2nd June 1975. One of umpires was Dickie Bird. Enough said!

[Grumpypants]

Pete...found the programme at long last whilst rummaging through the attic and I am afraid the programme is of no help. It does confirm that Gilliver was down for the No 9 shirt, but the programme had Blackburn Rovers colours down as Blue and White half shirts. I am still confident that it is the game played 3rd February 1968. I hope that this helps you.

[Pete’s Picture Palace]

Thank you GP, I agree with you - I've found another photo of a Bolton v Blackburn game, it must be a later season due to the weather - but Rovers wore the same all-dark strip (red or blue?).



I think it's Terry Garbett in mid air for Rovers and Paul Jones on the right for Wanderers. Rovers No 9 just right of middle is....?

[burnden1961]

I think this is Bolton v Blackburn 28-3-1973 No 9 I thick is Barry Endean
Blackburn won 1-0 in front of 33,010

[Pete’s Picture Palace]

Cheers!