TWO former YMCA junior players returned back to their club to present the awards at the YMCA's annual presentation evening on Sunday (June 13).

Everton's Jamie Milligan, who captained Englands's 18s squad and also made four appearances in the FA Premier League last season, was accompanied by Blackpool's left-back John Hills who also had Premiership experience at Everton two years ago.

Both players played their entire juniot careers at the YMCA, Milligan starting as a six-year-old and 21-year-old Hills making his YMCA debut when he was eight.

Other guest were Councillor Peter Hardy who was a local referee for 30 years and is now the newly-elected Mayor of Kirkham and representatives from the Poulton Primary League and Blackpool Youth League committees.

Mrs Kath Lancashire, widow of former Poulton Primary League secretary Peter Lancashire who died suddenly last November, was also a special guest.

Steve and Karen Griffiths, the parents of Anthony Griffiths who was tragically killed in a rollerblading accident two years ago when he was 10 and a YMCA player, were also amongst the guests.

The YMCA had an excellent season as a club with three teams winning Hogan Cup finals at Bloomfield Road.

They clinched a league championship and two league runners-up positions as well.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.