FOOTBALLERS took to the pitch to help Northwich achieve its dreams back in the 1950s.

A programme and magazine from the period reveal footballers teaming up to help raise money to build Northwich Memorial Hall.

The documents were shared with the Guardian by reader Toddy Barlow.

"There were two games where they raised money to build the memorial hall, and there were some very well-known people in here," he said.

A charity match was played in aid of the Northwich Victory Memorial Fund at Drill Field, in Northwich, on May 13, 1950.

This was between a Vics and Albion XI and star team Harry Ware's XI.

This star team featured Bert Trautmann, Ernie Phillips, Johnny McCue, Johnny Sellars, Roy Brown, Joe Mercer, Billy Liddell, George Smith, Fred Steele, Billy Fagan and Roy Clarke.

The programme explains more about the Northwich Victory Memorial Fund, which was formed at a public meeting at the church institute, in Church Road, in 1945.

The aim of the fund was to raise £25,000 to build the hall.

In 1950, £9,000 had been collected and ICI Alkali Division had promised to provide the final £6,000 once the community raised £19,000.

A Northwich Victoria Football Club magazine from the 1949/50 season refers to a river bank improvement scheme to create public gardens, pleasure walks and playing fields and refers to plans to hold a national architectural competition for the hall.

It states: "It is well known that money is not easy to raise in these difficult times of high living costs but every effort will be made in this behalf.

"The support of all townspeople in Northwich is earnestly requested, and if that support is forthcoming from all then the target will certainly be reached.

"Other towns have failed in similar projects to reach the target figure set but Northwich has always prided itself on achieving what it sets out to achieve and this very worthy cause will be no exception."

The fund committee was chaired by Cllr T Alcock and members included Northwich Urban District Council, the British Legion, the Soroptomists, Northwich Charities Committee and the Northwich Guardian.