Lancashire nostalgia in 1976: Public rally around PNE; shotgun for Romeos; and steak with added extra

Here's a look at some of the stories that were making the headlines back in 1976:
Fans like these ones pictured in 1967 are getting behind the team and buying season tickets in large numbersFans like these ones pictured in 1967 are getting behind the team and buying season tickets in large numbers
Fans like these ones pictured in 1967 are getting behind the team and buying season tickets in large numbers

Public rally around Preston North End

Secretary Chris Hassell was delighted to report that Preston North End have now sold 1,750 season tickets and taken £33,534 in cash from the sales.

This represents an increase of 150 tickets on last season and means that Hassell has achieved the target of taking more than £30,000 he set himself two months ago. “I have been very pleased with the response of the Preston public,” he said.

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“The fans have given us excellent backing considering that the team didn’t finish in the best of positions last April.

“Not many clubs have sold more season tickets this year than last year and I think that Preston can be proud.

“Certainly the sale have been encouraging to everyone at the club and have whipped up enthusiasm.

“Now it is up to us to produce the goods in the weeks ahead.”

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Naturally, Hassell was also delighted with the team’s performance last night, and is hoping that the display will convince the 6,586 spectators that North End are well worth watching.

He is hoping that the “gate” goes up for the next home game against Rotherham.

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Look back at a selection of pictures from 1976 here

Courting couples come a cropper due to feisty farmers

Roadside Romeos who do their courting on Farington Moss are being seen off with a shotgun. But angry farmer Dick Baybutt isn’t out to spoil their fun. And the shotgun showdowns with courting couples have brought him as many blushes as the lay-by lovers.

Sixty-three-year-old Dick, of Fleetwood Hall Farm, Midge Hall, Leyland, started his swoops on parked cars to protect his potato crop. “But it’s brought me a few embarrassing moments,” he said. “I started patrolling my land to stop my potato crops being pinched but I’ve come across quite a few cars where I thought they were stealing spuds and it’s turned out to be courting couples.

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“But I have it to do, for all I know they could be pretending to be courting and just waiting until I’m out of sight to steal the crops.”

Mr Baybutt and seven of his neighbours armed with sticks and shotguns, formed a moonlight vigilante group to protect their 500 acres of vegetable and potato crops on the Moss.

They intend keeping up the potato patrols until the crops are reading for lifting in two or three months’ time.

“We were forced to do it to save our livelihoods,” said Mr Baybutt.

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“We have always had to put up with crops being taken, but this year it is much worse, especially with prices going up, and we are determined to stop the stealing.”

Steak had that something special

The steak served on a Lancashire dinner table proved very chewy, and no wonder, according to the County Analyst in his quarterly report... it contained a piece of chewing gum.

It was just one of a long list of “hidden extras” which diners and shoppers discovered in their food.

A millipede, fragments of metal, rodent droppings, living fly larvae, cotton fibres and two pieces of rodent were all found in products sent to the County Analyst’s department.