A PROUD family have returned to the ground where their father made a small piece of North-east football history.

Back in 1950, former professional Kevin Heweston was the first player to score a goal at the newly-opened Belle Vue Park stadium, in Consett, in front of a crowd of 7,000 spectators.

Last week, his daughters Geraldine Dennis and Pat Henson were among the 700 fans watching Consett’s final game at the ground against a Newcastle United side.

Speaking from her home in Coxhoe, Mrs Dennis said: "There were lots of emotions on the night. It was an exciting match, it was tinged with sadness, but also pride".

Born in Leadgate in 1924, Kevin Heweston began his football career with Middlesbrough before being called up to the Army. On his demob in 1948, the left-sided midfielder signed for First Division Sunderland for the princely sum of £8-a-week during the season and £7-a-week during the close season.

He spent two years at Roker Park, in the same squad as the legendary Len Shackleton, before he left Sunderland and signed professional terms for Consett at the start of the 1950-51 season just as they moved into their new stadium.

Ironically, their first game in which Mr Heweston scored his landmark goal came in a friendly against Sunderland, his former employers.

He went on to play for first Annfield Plain and then Ashington, travelling to Northumberland for evening training after finishing his day job at Consett Iron Company.

Mr Heweston died in 2002 and when his daughters heard that Consett were to move to a new stadium at Crookhall, they were keen to be at the club’s final game in the old ground.

Mrs Dennis said: "We felt it was important to go to the last match at Belle Vue to represent Dad. It was part of his history and we feel it would have made him smile".