All-time hero bounces back

Five times an England amateur international, familiar in the Northern League for getting on 30 years, Dave was named All Time Hero in the days of the column's wet-eared infancy.

One knee's undergone surgery and the other awaits the knife, both eyes have been lasered into a renewed vision. Reborn, he smells the cruciate liniment once again.

To top it all, the old lad's in line for a lifetime achievement award when the Over 40s League marks its remarkable 25th anniversary at a do in Sunderland on June 10.

Persuaded by his long-time playmate Ralph Wright, now scouting for West Brom, Jock has made a number of recent cameo appearances for Sedgefield - a fair hike from his home on North Shields quayside.

"I got to 55, knew that my other knee had had it, but seeing as it only hurt when I kicked a ball, I stopped playing and didn't bother with the operation," he says.

"As soon as I started playing again and realised I could still do it, I just couldn't get enough. I'll definitely be back playing regular football next season."

His other knee will be surgically sorted on May 23."The really great thing's the laser," he says."You never realise how bad your eyesight is until it's right again."

Now retired, but still an enthusiastic tennis player, he insists that we don't reveal his age.

"I want to be 59 for the next ten years."

HEADED"Royal calendar" but with more attachments than a limpet mine, an e-mail arrives from Glenda Porterfield - wife of one of Sunderland's all-time heroes - in South Korea. Sadly, it falls outside the column's technological embrace, though one of the attachments describes it as"very funny." Ian Porterfield, now manager of the South Korean national team, was king of Roker, anyway.

TRESPASSING upon Mr Ron Hails's territory, we recalled last week that Hartlepools United had lost to Nottingham Forest in the 1954-55 FA Cup fourth round.

Hauled from hibernation, Hails of Hartlepool remembers it well."A gentleman called Scott scored a cracker for them at the Rink End," he says.

In the next round, Forest drew Newcastle United - the tie twice replayed before two goals from 24-year-old Stockton lad Alan Monkhouse cleared a flight path for the Magpies' Wembley win over Manchester City.

Ron was there."I was a referee in those days and, with perfect timing, it was my turn for the Cup final tickets," he says.

Alan Monkhouse never again appeared in the FA Cup, scored nine goals in 21 black and white Football League appearances and moved briefly to York City, whom United had beaten in the semi-final.

Anyone know what happened to him thereafter?

RICHARD Jones in Darlington reports that on the interactive website playforyourclub. com, the Quakers have just been promoted to the top division."Remember all George Reynolds' stuff about the Premiership within five years?" says Richard. "We did it."

NEWCASTLE United fanzine editor Steve Wraith changes sports on Sunday - a member of a team which includes Paul Gascogine in pursuit of the Felling Ashes.

The four-team tournament began in 2002 - "a bit of a laugh really," says Steve - and has grown into a significant fund raising event.

When someone pinched the umpire's coat it was ransomed, burned and an appropriate urn found on e-bay. The ashes had arisen.

Gazza's joined (inevitably) by Jimmy Five Bellies, by boxers Billy Hardy, John Davison and Glenn McCrory and by footballers including Steve Harper, Steve Caldwell, Eric Gates, Joe Allon and David McCreery.

Proceeds go to the Bubble Foundation, Steve Wraith's chosen charity, and to the Grace House appeal, favoured by Billy Hardy. Felling's cricket ground is in High Lanes, Heworth; the match begins at 1.30.

FIRST day of the local league cricket season: Eryholme 161-5 (C Walker 32 not out), Rockliffe Park II 65 all out (C Walker 5-36. ) The dear old Demon Donkey Dropper is 65. At least.

RECENT columns have dwelt upon Dunfermline FC, and upon the programme flyer for Stephens' bridies -"made in Scotland from recycled paper."

Unfortunately, however, Friday's Backtrack referred to"a Bovril and a bride", much to the consternation of Tim Grimshaw in North Shields.

"Is this a Freudian slip, a printing error or a deliberate mistake," asks Tim - the second, without doubt - and is clear where he stands on the issue.

"My immediate preference would be for a Bovril.

"I don't fancy a recycled bride at all."

Brave Joanne rises above abuse and intimidation

THE primary school teacher who stood up to the big boys on the football field got her reward last night.

Referee Joanne Howe, 22, received a finger across the throat death threat, was pushed and shoved by players screaming abuse and had her cards thrown to the ground after she tried to caution a player in a Saturday morning game.

Undeterred, she has now become the first woman to take charge of a Durham FA final - and is tipped to rise still further through the refereeing ranks.

"Despite what happened I love it, " insists Joanne, from Millfield, Sunderland.

"She's a lovely, level-headed, intelligent woman who's going to do very well, " says Terry Farley, the referees representative on Durham FA.

The incident last season happened when the International Cultural Centre from Sunderland were losing 5-1 to local pub side the Mountain Daisy. If she were a lady, they certainly weren't gentlemen; if it were culture, she's minister for the arts.

"The whole team came rushing towards me and surrounded me, " recalls Joanne.

"Fortunately some of the players from the Mountain Daisy stood by me and my dad, who watches every game, was on the field, too. The one who drew his finger across his throat told me I was going to die.

"I was scared at first but I was well protected by the other lads.

It's the only time anything like that has happened and I received a lot of support over it."

The team was subsequently expelled from the league and the players given long suspensions.

"Even then I didn't really think about giving up refereeing because it would have meant that they'd won, " says Joanne. "I was pleased it was them who had to pack up, not me.

"The hardest bit isn't any occasional trouble you might get, it's getting out of bed on a Sunday morning."

Qualified since she was 15, she was encouraged to take up refereeing by her uncle, who is also a referee.

"Initially there was a bit of surprise but now most people know me I like to think I'm just another referee and not a woman referee. They've even started swearing at me the same as the men."

Already she's reached Level 5 on refereeing's shaky step-ladder and hopes to become an Arngrove Northern League assistant referee next season.

"It keeps me fit and my mind active and most of the time it's quite social, really. I even get to referee some of the dads of the children I teach at school."

Last night she was the woman in the middle for the Durham FA under 18s final at Norton and Stockton Ancients; the previous evening she had an under 13s final at Washington.

Terry Farley's impressed.

"She's doing really well. There aren't many easy games these days, as the business at Shildon on Monday night showed. . . ."

The business at Shildon on Monday night was the final of the South Durham Charity Bowl, Brandon Prince Bishop v Shildon Railway.

Wherever charity begins it certainly wasn't at the Dean Street ground, referee John Morton abandoning the match after 78 minutes because of "persistent misconduct" by both sides.

"In 41 years of helping run these competitions I've never seen anything like it, " says Bowl secretary Bob Strophair.

Though Mr Morton, from Darlington, is believed to have warned both captains at halftime, no-one had been sent off before an incident between two players proved (as it were) the final straw.

Though competition chairman Gordon Nicholson tried to persuade the referee to change his mind, Mr Morton was adamant that he wouldn't return to the field.

"There'd been a lot of niggly fouls and I don't know how many yellow cards but I think everyone was quite surprised, " says Mr Strophair. "The crowd seemed to go home quite peaceably."

The game stood at 1-1 and won't be replayed. Durham FA, not short of disciplinary cases, will decide who's to be caught and Bowled.

And finally...

Tuesday's column sought the identity of the three Albany Northern League teams beginning with the letter "W", other than Whitby, who'd appeared in a Wembley final. They are West Auckland, Willington and Whickham.

Bob Foster in Ferryhill today invites readers to name the only player to have scored a hat-trick in all four English divisions, in the FA Cup, League Cup and for his country. Three agent, the column returns on Tuesday.

Published: 29/04/2005