SIXTY years is a mighty long time, but it was 1963 when Crook Town last won the Northern League Division 1 championship, having previously won the title in 1915, 1927, 1953 and 1959.

What is interesting at Crook is how the events of seasons 1952-53 and 1954-55 are identical to events 10 years later, in seasons 1962-63 and 1964-65.

In 1952-53, Crook Town won the Northern League title as they did 10 years later in 1962-63. In 1953-54, Crook Town won the FA Amateur Cup, eventually beating Bishop Auckland 1-0 in a replay at Middlesbrough, and 10 years later in 1963-64 they again won the Amateur Cup by beating Enfield 2-1 at Wembley.

Then, in 1954-55, Crook met Willington at home in the Amateur Cup 1st Round and lost 1-0, Gainford plumber Bobby Webb scoring the Willington goal, and 10 years later in 1964-65, they were once more drawn at home to Willington in the 1st Round of the Cup and once again they lost 1-0 at home. This time window cleaner John 'Boxer' Taylor scored the Willington goal. Amazing coincidences.

READ MORE SPORT NOSTALGIA: 20 YEARS SINCE THE MAGPIES SAID FAREWELL TO KEEPER STEVE HARPER

Going back 60 years to the 1962-63 season, Crook assembled one of the best teams ever seen at The Millfield. The only blot on the season was a 3rd Round Amateur Cup exit at Hampshire League Alton Town, where only an outstanding display from centre half John Heatherington saved them from a heavier defeat. Crook secretary Harry Laws said: "We hit rock bottom."

Highlights of the 1962-63 season were an heroic display at Third Division Hull City in the FA Cup 1st Round, where Crook actually led 4-1 with 35 minutes to go. With two 17-year-olds in their team, Roy Gale at left back and John Cocking at inside forward, they ran out of steam while injuries to centre forward Ken Bowron and outside left Jimmy McMillan did not help, but what a game! John Cocking, the scorer of two Crook goals, not only impressed Hull manager Cliff Britton, but also the watching Leeds United manager Don Revie and two England international selectors.

The Northern Echo: The Crook Town team which beat Ferryhill Athletic 3-2 at home on April 27 1963. Back L-R

The Crook Town team which beat Ferryhill Athletic 3-2 at home on April 27, 1963. Back, left to right: D McCourt, P Garbutt, T Craig, A Brown, J Heatherington, I Reid.  Front: R Heslington, A Coates, Football Queen Carol Cox, K Bowron, B Storey, J McMillan

Another highlight was striker Ken Bowron, who was surely one of the best post-war goalscorers ever seen at Crook. He scored five goals in two games as Spennymoor and South Bank were beaten 4-1 and 4-0 in late 1962. After his hat-trick at South Bank, one soccer journalist wrote: "He scored three of the best goals I have seen for a long time. The goalkeeper did not move for any of them. If any First or Second Division centre forward had scored such a hat-trick, the press would have gone into raptures."

He scored both goals as Crook beat North Eastern League Stockton 2-1 away in the 1st Round of the Durham Challenge Cup. In the 2nd Round, after a 0-0 draw with Darlington Reserves at Feethams, he scored as Crook won the replay 3-0 with Barry Storey and John Cocking on target. Crook were eventually knocked out of that cup 2-1 at North Eastern League Horden in the 3rd Round, in front of Horden's biggest crowd of the season. Arnold Coates put Crook ahead, Reay equalised on 68 minutes before, nine minutes later, a goal from former Aberdeen outside left Jackie Hather put the home side through.

The Northern Echo: Ken Bowron, who went on to score 114 goals in 136 games for Berwick Rangers

Ken Bowron, who went on to score 114 goals in 136 games for Berwick Rangers

As Crook made relentless progress towards the Northern League title that season, Coates scored again on May 16 to earn the Black and Ambers a point at Stanley which left them needing three points from their last two games, both at home, to clinch the title.

Their first opponents were the “old enemy” of Bishop Auckland who were beaten 4-1 on Tuesday, May 21, with Barry Storey 2, Goodfellow and McMillan the scorers. The following evening Crook reached the Northern League Challenge Cup final by beating Durham City 2-1 in a replay with Coates (pen) and Storey their scorers, and then they won the Northern League title on Thursday, May 23, by beating Durham 4-0 with goals from Coates, 2, Cocking and Bowron.

And then the following evening, Friday, May 24, Crook met West Auckland in the final of the Northern League Cup at Shildon. 

This was Crook's sixth game in nine days, which may have had a bearing on the result, a 4-0 win to West.

The 1962-63 season was a tremendous one for Crook with remarkably few changes in personnel. Only Ken Bowron, Dan McCourt and Ian Reid became regulars after the start of the season.

A further success was the amateur international between Scotland and Switzerland which was played on The Millfield on May 20. It drew a crowd of 1,647 with takings of £164. Peter Lorimer, with the cannonball shot, who went on to play for Leeds United and the Scotland senior side, played.

It was reported that the FA officials and many other visitors were delighted with the social side of the arrangements at Crook. A lot of credit went to the Supporters Club for this.

READ MORE SPORT NOSTALGIA: THE DAY MY DAD PLAYED AMONG YORKSHIRE CRICKETING LEGENDS IN DARLINGTON