A LONG-retired local soccer player is making his comeback at the age of 70.

Mick Cartman was one of the first to volunteer as a player for a "golden oldies" charity soccer match in memory of the former Carleton, Skipton Bulldogs and Skipton LMS stalwart Colin "Nimrod" Hartley.

The match, between a Carleton and Skipton Invitation XI, takes place at the LMS ground on Sunday at 11am with proceeds going to Airedale Hospital's haematology and oncology unit, which helps cancer and leukemia sufferers.

Mick will certainly not be able to reproduce the skills for which he was well renowned half a century ago when he as an almost automatic choice in the Craven League's representative sides for its then traditional fixtures against Burnley and Bradford City XIs. But he has already scored where it matters most - in the fundraising stakes due to some of the youngsters at Aireville School where Mick works as a cleaner - having already been around with sponsorship forms to boost the overall effort.

Indeed many of the other players, not to mention match referee Colin Beck, and others will be doing their bit towards raising a target of £2,000 for equipment for the unit.

Captain of the Carleton XI will be another formidable rock of respect, David "Ginner" Bell, who himself is well past the 60 mark.

A galaxy of international 1950s and 1960s stars have autographed a ball alongside boxing legend Henry Cooper to boost the fund-raising effort. Among them are Leeds United's John Charles and Burnley's Jimmy McIlroy.

The ball and other prizes will be drawn afterwards courtesy of the international DJ Wavy Davy from Benidorm at the LMS Social Club.

Joint organiser Roger Ingham said that the interest and involvement has been tremendous and everyone was entering into the spirit, not least those taking part. He stressed that all those taking part should be fit enough to turn in for work the following day!

Meanwhile the collection ball was set rolling at last Saturday's important rugby game at Skipton RFC, whose popular president Harry Crabtree is another to have undergone treatement at the hospital unit, which the soccer match is designed to assist.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.