A STRETFORD park is appealing to residents for their memories from the past 100 years.

Longford Park will celebrate its centenary in May next year and the Friends group have planned two days of celebrations to mark the occasion.

They want to hear from people who remember the park in its former years - when the Busby Babes are rumoured to have had a relaxed kick about when they were not training - so they can build up a history display.

The park first opened to the public on May 11, 1912 after the people of Stretford chose to pay an extra levy on their rates in order to ‘buy’ the park from the Rylands family.

The Friends group want to celebrate the park, whilst encouraging and promoting it to the local community, and have created a programme of events with music, dance, sport, guided walks, stalls, food and a historical display.

They have also created a commemorative calendar for 2012, which contains pictures of Longford Park throughout the past century and a short history section.

Money from sales of the calendar, which costs £3 and is available from local libraries, will be used to fund some of the centenary celebrations.

Councillor Anne Duffield said: “This fabulous park is the heart of the community and these celebrations planned for 2012 will allow many people to enjoy and learn much more about, and get involved in, all the great work and activities that take place here every week.”

Anyone with memories of the park is asked to contact the Friends of Longford Park via Richard Bond on 0161 8656776 or Richard@bond007007.freeserve.co.uk.

The Friends group are also looking for sponsorship for the weekend. For more information contact Cllr Anne Duffield on 0161 8643873 or a.duffield@trafford.gov.uk.