Hi. Just wondering why clubs years ago used to sometimes list players on team sheets / programmes as A.N.Other? Was it usually a trialist who they couldn't name for legal reasons or something? Used to notice it a lot at Rovers, particularly A-team matches, just curious why it was common practice 10-15 years ago, + is it still used?

AN Other was a trialist and as such couldnt be named frequently they were union players who were having a try out. In those days if their identity was revealed such was the RU hatred for our game said trialist would be banned sine die from RU.

Other names used for trialists were SO Else A.Bell A. Newman and the rather classy Trailist.

I remember Flash Flanagan in his first game at the Boulevard for Fc appeared as AN Other although the entire crowd knew who he was.

not just union players incidently, sometimes when you were struggling to fill an A team fixture local amateur lads would be given a go to fulfill the fixture and "might be paid expenses" but would not be named so as not to compromise their amateur status with BARLA

I remember watching a certain graham steadman play in our A team as an A.N.Other at the old craven park against Cas I think it was before he signed for York looked useful at the time but rodger passed on him, one that got away that