FORMER England international footballer Chris Waddle turned the clock back last night when he played at Tow Law for the first time in 20 years.

It was while playing for the Lawyers as an 18-year-old that Waddle was spotted by Newcastle United.

It was the start of a career which included five seasons at St James' Park, four at Spurs, a £4.25m move to Marseille and 62 games for England.

"As soon as I got here I could see not much had changed," said Waddle. "They've built new dressing rooms but the stand and club house are the same."

Even the weather was the same, with a couple of inches of snow around the pitch, frozen goalmouths and a nithering wind.

"I remember the first time I came up here and I said it was cold and they said no, it's summer," said Waddle.

With his first touch of the ball on the treacherous right wing, Waddle lost his footing and fell in an undignified heap, but he sprayed some beautiful long passes around and helped Tow Law Old Boys beat the current team 6-4.

"It took me a while to get into it, particularly as I fell on my backside with my first touch, but I enjoyed the second half," he said.

Current Lawyers manager Graeme Forster said of the 40-year-old star turn: "I'd still accommodate him somehow in my team."

A couple of hundred hardy souls watched at the Ironworks Road ground and helped raise more than £500 for Mickey Bailey, who is retiring after 12 years at the club.

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