MEMORIES came flooding back after last week's KN Sport feature on former Silsden footballer Maurice Tillotson, who is now national coach of the Cook Islands.

Maurice himself contacted us by email from the islands, which bask in round-the-year sunshine in the south Pacific.

He said: "I am living on the Island of Rarotonga and hold the position of Technical Director of the Cook Islands Football Association. This involves all aspects of football in these Islands, from running a development programme for youth football, training coaches and working with the national teams.

"My appointment is for a two year period sponsored jointly by CIFA Oceania Confederation and FIFA."

Nearer home Tommy Lynas, who is now approaching his 70th birthday, recalled bringing the talented young player into Keighley's Victoria Star team of the early 1960's.

The team played in the newly formed Keighley Alliance League and despite being packed with teenagers they went on to win the league competition and reached the final of the first Jeff Hall Cup. The trophy was presented to the league in memory of Hall who played 17 times for England and helped Birmingham City to the FA Cup final in 1956, but died of polio at the age of 29.

In the cup semi-final Victoria Star played Volunteer Arms who were run by ex-Everton player Freddy Payne, but the teenagers won 3-2 an earned a place in the final on the old centre field at Marley Stadium.

They met Shoulder of Mutton in a tough encounter. The score was level at 3-3 as the whistle was about to blow for full time when Maurice sneaked in for the winner.

Now the enthusiasm he developed on local pitches is helping to produce a new breed of footballers on the other side of the world.

n Maurice (centre) coaches on a beach in the Cook Islands.