I WONDER if Guardian readers who saw the story about former Chelsea footballer Terry Bradbury winning £5.5 million on the lottery realised he had a strong local connection.

Terry joined Northwich Vics as player-manager in April, 1972 and turned out regularly throughout the 1972-73 season, becoming very popular at the Drill Field for his performances, personality and leadership.

I was sports editor of the Guardian at the time and enjoyed the privilege of travelling to away games on the players' coach and spent many fascinating hours sitting next to The Boss, listening to hairy stories of his time at Stamford Bridge from 1957-62 when wages were less than £50 a week and the club were not as successful as today, yet even then a leading force in the First Division.

Vics did well that season, finishing eighth in a highly competitive Northern Premier League, the highlight being two superb performances against the powerful Wigan Athletic in the League Cup final, winning 2-0 at home and drawing 2-2 at Springfield Park, both in front of crowds of well over 2,000 Terry's managerial skills were spotted elsewhere and he left after 12 months, which was a shame for the club who slid down eight places the following season.

He continued to play football in the north of England until his retirement and now lives at Buxton, aged 75.

I felt that it was typical of a very decent man to read that the first thing he and his wife Ann planned to do with such magnificent winnings was to pay off the mortgages of their four sons.

Mike Talbot-Butler