OUR main story this week takes a look at sport and, specifically, former Weymouth footballer Bill Hoskins.

This selection of images was lent to us by his daughter, Diane Butler, who says that her father played for Dorset County, Portland, Dorchester and Weymouth.

He was a goalkeeper and is distinctive in his knitted poloneck jumpers.

Diane remembers: “They were horrible – really heavy and got very hot and wet when it rained.

“I also used to clean his football boots. They were heavy leather ones with vicious studs.”

Bill died in 1954 aged 41 when Diane was just 14. She remembers his footballing days though and some of the people he played with.

“They would play for lots of different teams in those days,” she said. “I used to follow the teams closely, though I don’t so much any more.”

Billy started his football career playing for Holy Trinity Boys School and continued up the ladder.

“But it wasn’t without its price.

“They used to play with a leather ball and it was incredibly heavy,” said Diane.

“During his career, he suffered two broken ribs after being hit by a ball and also had his ear almost ripped off.

“If you ask me, today’s footballers are a load of big cissies, all hugging each other and what not.

“I think they should be made to play with one of the old leather balls and see how they get on.”