Over the years, many clubs have achieved legendary status on the Northern Soul scene.

The Twisted Wheel was the first, but many more were to follow. I was also lucky enough to attend the Catacombs in Wolverhampton, Up The Junction in Crewe, the Torch in Stoke on Trent, and the Mecca in Blackpool.

Although it wasn't an all-nighter, I would place Catacombs  second only to the Wheel due I suppose, to some similarities in environment. I also had many memorable nights in The Torch and the Mecca. Nothing, however, would recapture the magic of the Wheel.

By 1972, the word had spread about this rare soul culture. Some rare records had been released in the U.K. and made an impact on the charts. People were beginning to show an interest and in that same year, The Torch alone had over 62,000 customers through it's doors.

The fact that Blackpool Mecca was also ultra popular during this period shows the amount of people coming on board.

With the closure of the Torch, came an opportunity for Wigan Casino to make an entrance. The premises had nothing to do with gambling however, and it's huge, well sprung dance floor would soon begin to help Wigan rival Blackpool Mecca. Indeed they would eventually overtake the Mecca, as the latter gradually changed it's music policy to contemporary soul.

The fact that Wigan Casino gathered a membership of over 100,000 in it's 8 year lifespan speaks for itself. It was also voted the world's top nightclub by Billboard, beating even Studio 54 into second position. But towards the end, it had lost it's way in terms of record quality, and 'white artist stompers' soon ruled the roost.

It would take the 'Real Soul' deejays at Stafford to save the day and lead us into a new and possibly final, but glorious era.

Notes thanks to David Meikle.