Liverpool-born Alistair Cox plays Thin Lizzy at The Walks most Saturdays — but this afternoon the lyrics will really strike a chord with him.

'The Boys Are Back In Town' welcomes King's Lynn Town's players and their opposition out on to the pitch. Yet, this week the 70s smash hit's chorus will mean more than usual to the 50-year-old.

Lynn's announcer, an avid Everton fan, has always followed the non-league team where he lives. That used to be Southport — who face the Linnets today in a match which is likely to evoke plenty of fond childhood memories.

Cox, who controls Lynn's public address system, said: 'I started watching Southport when they were in the old Fourth Division and we used to sneak in a hole at the back of the stand to get in for free. It cost us a bus fair and a bag of chips to watch football.

'A few ex-Liverpool and Everton players, like Sandy Brown, were playing for them at the time, but they always used to lose. Eventually they were demoted and the whole town was in shock.

'When I left Southport in '86 and eventually moved to Lynn I started watching them. The first thing I noticed was the big stand. I thought it was a cracking little ground and I soon got hooked.'

The former Luminar Leisure manager and DJ started sharing the role of doing the PA with Les Miller in 1999. He has been in the hot seat by himself for almost 10 years after a brief break working as a business manager in Tenerife.

Cox, who now hosts a Saturday show on radio station KLFM from 8am to 1pm, jumped at the chance to work for Lynn again after the original club went bust in 2009. As a result he insists he'll only be supporting one side today.

West Norfolk Borough Council's town centre manager for Lynn, Hunstanton, Downham and Gaywood said: 'I support Everton first, then Lynn, and then Southport, who are like an ex-girlfriend who I have fond memories of.

'I love non-league football and the pride and passion that it has, something I think the pro game has lost. It's a joy to be part of the club. I've never looked at it as work and I hope we, Lynn, win today.'