Player Profile: Teddy Rothwell

His school team won the Daily Dispatch Shield — he scored all four goals in the final — and he represented Lancashire Schoolboys at centre-forward.He joined Bolton Wanderers as a youngster, playing in the ‘A’ team as an amateur until turning professional at 18. He made 24 Football League appearances in 1938—39 at outside-left for the Wanderers but, come the war, he became an RAF wireless operator playing two seasons as a guest for Bath City. At Bolton he was recognised as an inside-forward buthe eventually became the club’s utility man in attack, alternating between the right and left wing or the two inside-forward positions. At Burnden Park he had more than his fair share of injuries; two cartilages had to be removed, he fractured an ankle and wrist and displaced his collar-bone.About to retire, he was recommended to Southport by Jackie Rimmer (q.v.) and after switching from inside-forward came on apace on the wing. He was retained for 1950—51 after initially being transfer listed but did not enjoy the same measure of success in his second season with the club. A further ankle injury led to his retirement on medical advice and he never played professionally agarn. Invited back to Bolton to run the ‘B’ team, he was later appointed Assistant Secretary and from 1968—78 succeeded Bill Ridding as club Secretary before again retiring on medical advice.