THEY may not have basked in the sort of international glory shared by the Charlton brothers, but Harry and Jimmy Anders, members of a large working-class family from Parr, had a comparable reputation when it came to be-devilling the soccer opposition.

They were two tricky, attacking wingers who played in tandem, terrorising defences and setting the terraces roaring with their incisive style of play.

Now the sporting chapter has been finally closed with the recent death of Jimmy at the age of 74. Harry, who pre-deceased him some time ago, was a firm favourite with Preston North End where he was rather unfortunate to often find himself as deputy to the legendary Tom Finney.

He did, however, make his own impact, stirring one Deepdale fan to compare him with Maradona, in writing to his local paper: "He would go through a team, turn round and dribble through them again. It was little 'Arry Anders. Playing today, Harry would have been world class".

Soccer crowds equally took to Jimmy who also served Preston during the opening chapter of his long career.

Surviving brother Bill Anders, from Newtown, justifiably proud of his sporty siblings, forwarded some background details reaching back to the 1930s when the family lived at 100 Chancery Lane, Parr. "We all went to Allanson Street Primary and later to Parr Central".

Throughout the ravages of the Second World War, kicking a tin can around the street or a battered ball on the park was one of the few 'luxuries' that young kids enjoyed. "But we never complained", says Bill.

Then around 1944, while serving on a minesweeper in the Med, Bill learned that Preston had made a move to sign Harry and Jimmy.

Both were snapped up. But after the war, while teenager Jimmy was making progress banging in the goals for Preston in the Central League, he was called up for National Service and posted down south.

Brentford spotted him and secured his signature, while Harry remained at Deepdale deputising for Finney or playing for the senior side on the opposite wing. Battling away behind him was the legendary Bill Shankly.

Jimmy did quite a bit of club-hopping - Bradford City, Tranmere Rovers and his final club, Accrington Stanley (then in the English League) being added to his list. During his career, which was ended by a serious foot injury when in his 30s, Jimmy played with, or against, some of the big star names including the controversial Jimmy Hill, later to became TV soccer pundit, while at Brentford.

At Accrington, he and brother Harry were re-united on the pitch, almost 12 years to the day from being discovered by Preston. Jimmy, who had settled down to family life in Oswaldtwistle, played on Accrington's left wing for five seasons, from 1957. The stocky little player became a Stanley legend, topping their scoring list in season 1958-59 with 20 league and cup goals, thus establishing himself as the highest-scoring winger in the club's history.

Brother Harry had signed for Manchester City from Preston in 1952, missing out on two FA Cup finals because of nagging injuries. Then, after a season's stint with Port Vale he eventually linked up with Jimmy at Accrington.

The pair hit the national headlines in 1959 for two unique reasons. They were starring for the same famous old northern club on opposite wings... and their wives had presented them with twins within a month of each other!

The sporty brothers were given major back-page treatment, with a splash picture showing them proudly holding their sets of twins.

Says Bill: "St Helens has boasted quite a few notable pro footballers over the years, including Bill Foulkes, John Connelly, Gary Owen, and more recently Mike Sheron. But I know of no other pair of local brothers playing pro soccer together".