WE have always heralded and highlighted the outstanding success of south-west Durham amateur football clubs in the FA Amateur Cup, especially in the 15 year period from 1950 to 1964.

Keith Belton, sadly no longer with us, was a staunch supporter of the Two Blues of Bishop Auckland as well as being a founder member and former chairman of the Durham Amateur Football Trust. He referred to those 15 years as "a social and sporting phenomena".

Nothing encapsulates that statement more than the 1961-62 season when three teams from south-west Durham – Bishop Auckland, Crook Town and West Auckland – all reached the semi-final stage of the Amateur Cup competition. Four players who appeared in those semi-finals – Cyril Gowland and Ray Wilkie of Bishop Auckland, Don Sparks of Crook Town, and Colin Summerson of West Auckland – played for all three south-west Durham clubs during their careers.

March 24, 1962
FA Amateur Cup semi-final at Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough
Crook Town 2
West Auckland 0

 

The Northern Echo: Teams from the match programme for the FA Amateur Cup semi-final between Crook Town and West Auckland at Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough on Saturday March 24 1962.CROOK TOWN were playing in their fourth Amateur Cup semi-final in five years after defeats to Ilford in 1958 and Kingstonian in 1960, but a success in 1959 against Leytonstone. West Auckland were playing in their second semi-final in succession after beating Leytonstone in the 1961 stage.

West players Colin Summerson and Keith Hopper had both played for Crook in the past. Colin's first game in the Northern League was for Crook at Penrith with Bobby Davison in the Crook team. Colin was pulled out of the Temps snooker club in Crook, quickly signed a form, before he rushed home to gather his gear.

Keith Hopper was top goal-scorer for Crook in the 1956-57 season but left the club in a disappointing way. Bobby Davison promised to get Keith some extra expenses for taking him to matches in his car. Keith once recalled: "After a home game, the treasurer called me over and took me to a room where he had a bag overflowing with five and ten pound notes. He said: 'We're going to give you some extra expenses.' I thought great, until he put his hand into the bag and gave me half a crown.

"I never played again."

Crook's strength in 1961-62 was their defence. On their way to the semi-final they had only conceded two goals. All six defenders – Ray Snowball, Derek Gardener, Frank Clark, Barry Storey, John Heatherington and Allan Brown – should have won England caps but only Gardener and Clark, later to sign for Newcastle, ever did. Warwickshire cricketer Bill Blenkiron from Newfield, was a capable defensive reserve.

Colin Summerson always maintained that Albert Mendum was the driving force behind the West Auckland team, while inside forward Billy Broomfield would go on to win 13 England Amateur caps, some with Enfield when he moved south. He played for Enfield against Crook in the 1964 final.

In the early stages of this semi-final the sides sparred with each other like two boxers working each other out.

Then in the 25th minute came a flurry of activity in the West Auckland box after a second corner in quick succession by McMillan of Crook. Two shots were charged down before Arnold Coates swept the ball home.

I still remember the second Crook goal scored by outside right Don Sparks in the 44th minute because he looked to have no chance. He skipped down the right wing, stopped, and then turned back to go inside his marker before shooting with his left foot from a very oblique angle. Somehow the ball squeezed through a tiny gap between the diving Oliver and the near left hand post. We cheered again.

It was all over. West had a shot kicked off the line in the second half, but were rarely dangerous after that and Crook coasted into the final.

March 24, 1962
FA Amateur Cup semi-final at Griffin Park, Brentford
Bishop Auckland 1
Hounslow 2

The Northern Echo: Seamus O'Connell, third from the left, the Bishop Auckland forward, hits a beauty which flashes past the post with Hounslow keeper Rhodes watching during the Bishop Auckland v Hounslow FA Amateur Cup semi-final at Brentford on Saturday March 24 1962.

Seamus O'Connell, third from the left, the Bishop Auckland forward, hits a beauty which flashes past the post with Hounslow keeper Rhodes watching during the 1962 semi-final

BISHOP AUCKLAND, similar to 1957, had another horror show at a Monday evening committee meeting before the semi. Coach Bobby Hardisty advised that Seamus O'Connell should not play as he was not fully fit. Hardisty left the meeting for other business, but chairman Bob Middlewood kept everyone behind and they overturned Bob's advice to pick O'Connell, much to Hardisty's disgust, and he later resigned.

Another factor which contributed to Auckland's defeat was the bone hard, grassless pitch and light ball at Griffin Park, Brentford. Auckland were more used to muddy conditions and a heavy ball on the Northern League grounds.

Dipper put Hounslow ahead on 25 minutes. A half-fit O'Connell equalised with a header on 37 minutes, and it was 1-1 at the interval. A controversial second half penalty swung the game Hounslow's way. Reid was judged to have pushed winger Somers in the Auckland box, but the referee was 60 yards away when he made his decision. Creasey made no mistake from the spot.

Hardisty watched O'Connell limping badly in the last 20 minutes after Sowerby and Gowland had also suffered early injuries. No subs in those days.

Bishop Auckland: Sharratt, Ramm, Reid; Thursby, Bainbridge, Greenwood; Sowerby, Gowland, O'Connell, Wilkie, Wright.

Reunion

Would any former Darlington Northend FC or Northgate FC footballers contact Stan Summers for a players' reunion. Stan is on 07715-122280.