Just when we thought Anglo - Russian relations were taking a downturn an under 10 football team from Consett have made a lot more Russian friends.

Torpedo Consett were named after Torpedo Moscow, a famous Russian side renowned for its fanatical supporters. It was only a matter of time before the Russian connection was made and when it happened the under 10 website was bombarded by "Torpedians" from all over the world. The site has now had over 90,000 hits which is no mean feat and has regular hits from 14 countries around the globe.

The team have sent a pennant, specially made, to Torpedo Moscow via Kevin Hawke a Manchester City and Torpedo Moscow supporter who travels regularly over to the Russian capital to watch the team. In return the Consett side have received a pennant from the Moscow team and have regular wishes of good will from the "black whites" supporters, as the team are nicknamed.

To acknowledge the great support Torpedo Consett unveiled their new kit which bears the famous Torpedo Moscow "T" which was sent with compliments of a Moscow club official and replicated courtesy of Signit, a company from York.

One Russian adult team have already adopted the name of Torpedo Consett and have printed the name and the under 10's main sponsor Peter Haney Ltd on their shirts. The organiser Alexander Permanov was overwhelmed by the Consett team and explained that the children in Moscow could not belive a team from the UK would be interested in their club.

Coincidently because of the nickname the "black whites" many Moscow supporters also support Newcastle United and this makes the link that bit stronger, apart of course to the Sunderland boys who play for the team.

Torpedo Consett have now formed another team Torpedo Consett DX and both will form an 11 a side squad next year when they complete the last year of the small sided Russel Foster league.