Alec “Bint” Thompson has died, aged 87

Few players – both past and present – can equal the goalscoring magic of Alec “Bint”

Thompson, who died in hospital last week aged 87.

Mr Thompson played at centre-forward for Wearhead United, whose ground in upper Weardale, County Durham, at 1,107ft above sea level is the highest in England, until he was well into his 40s.

He and fellow veteran player Jack Baister, who died last year, were featured in a calendar celebrating the 100th anniversary of Wearhead United in 2006.

At the time, Mr Thompson was quoted in the Northern Echo as saying: “I knocked in more goals than anybody else in my time.”

That drew a response from Mr Baister, who said: “He’s right, but most of them came from my pinpoint passes on the wing.”

Long-serving Wearhead United chairman and former player Brian Peart last night paid his tribute. He said: “Bint was one of the most outstanding footballers ever to play in this dale. He scored more goals than any other player in the club’s history and could knock them in with either foot. Bint was also wellknown in the dale as a bit of a character.”

Mr Thompson also helped lifelong friend Norman Wright keep Wearhead United firmly on the amateur football map. Mr Wright was the inspiration behind a new club name in 1995.

Both men were fanatical Middlesbrough supporters and frequently made the lengthy journey from Weardale to Boro’s former ground at Ayresome Park.

However, Mr Thompson’s two brothers, Tommy and Alfie, supported Newcastle United and Sunderland.

Mr Thompson, a batchelor who worked in washing plants in fluorspar mines until he retired in 1982, lived all his life in the same terraced house in Wearhead where he was born.

His father, Joseph, a miner at nearby Killhope, died in 1940. His mother, Margaret, died in 1972.

Mr Thompson’s funeral service will take place at 2.15pm tomorrow at St Thomas’ Church, Cowshill. It will be followed by burial at Burtreeford cemetery – near Wearhead United’s ground.