REG MOUNTFORD once scored a hat-trick for his hometown club, but it was when he went to the Olympics representing Denmark that he really brought home the bacon – a gold medal.

His family ran a tailor’s shop in Bondgate in Darlington for 140 years, and his father, Charles – a Cockerton councillor who died falling out of a trolley bus – co-founded the Darlington Harriers athletics club 130 years ago.

Reg himself was born in 1908 at 1, Cliffe Terrace, Woodland Road, and made his debut for the Quakers as a 20-year-old defender at Feethams in a victorious FA Cup replay against Scarborough at the end of 1928. His proudest Quaker moment came the following February when, turned into a striker, he scored three goals in a 5-3 win over Rochdale.

Those were his only Quakers’ goals and after 14 appearances, he was transferred to Huddersfield Town, where he made 236 appearances over the next decade and helped restore their fortunes. Reg’s biggest moment was probably in the 1938 FA Cup final – the first televised Cup final – but Huddersfield lost in the last minute of extra time to a Preston North End side which included Bill Shankly.

Then came the war. Reg was selected to play one wartime international for England – a 3-2 defeat to Scotland at St James’ Park – and then he retired.

He made the unusual career step of emigrating to Denmark to try his hand at management, taking control of a Copenhagen side called Boldklubben Frem.

The 1948 “Austerity” Olympics were held in London and Reg was asked to manage the Danish team. Denmark beat Egypt in the first round at Selhurst Park, created a major upset by overcoming Italy 5-3 in the quarter-finals, but lost in the semi-final at Wembley to Sweden.

This plunged them into the bronze medal play-off against a Great Britain side managed by Matt Busby and captained by Bob Hardisty.

Hardisty was one of the greatest amateurs of his era, playing for 20 years for Bishop Auckland, the greatest amateur club. He won 15 amateur England caps, three FA Amateur Cups and represented GB at three Olympics – but never won a medal.

However, in that bronze medal play-off at Wembley on August 13, 1948, Hardisty put GB 2-1 up, but Reg’s Danes won 5-3 after extra time.

The Danish football team, managed by Reg Mountford receive their bronze medals at the 1948 Olympics

After this success, Reg stayed in Copenhagen for at least another four years, but he retired back to England, and settled near Brighton, where he died in 1994 – Darlington’s Danish Olympian.

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Reg Mountford when he was playing for Huddersfield