Routine recipients of much that is extraordinary, staff in Darlington's Oxfam shop were nonetheless much taken aback to be given a 1951 Spectro film projector, sub-titled "Projection perfection" and in its original case.

Yet more greatly surprising was the contents of the Braemar shortbread tin which accompanied it - the Pathe News reel of Newcastle United's 1951 FA Cup final win over Blackpool, appropriately in black and white.

Pathe itself is now selling similar newsreel footage for around £10 a second. "It's worth a fortune," says Magpies programme editor Paul Tully. It was Jackie Milburn's final and not, as most neutrals had hoped, Stanley Matthews's. Encouraged by 12,000 Geordies singing Blaydon Races, Milburn scored both goals.

United's Wembley team - only two of whom survive - was Fairbrother, Cowell, Corbett, Harvey, Brennan, Crowe, Walker, Taylor, Milburn, Robledo, Mitchell. Charlie Crowe, who'll be 80 in October, is alive and well and lives near Newcastle's training ground; Tommy Walker, once a professional sprinter, passed 80 last November and lives near Manchester.

But what of that front page newsreel, which cost £4 10s in 1951 and might buy a decent centre half today?

The projector and associated equipment with which it came still has the original one year guarantee - it lasted a bit longer - and a letter from the manufacturer hoping there'd be hours of pleasurable entertainment.

There was also a programme from the 1951 "Grand Air Display" at Newcastle Municipal Airport at Woolsington - Tiger Moths, Short Sealands, Meteors from Middleton St George, doubtless also filmed - in which airport committee chairman Ald William McKeag wrote that the people of all nations were becoming more and more air minded.

"Space," added Ald McKeag, "is becoming annihilated."

Oxfam shop manageress Marion Cowper is amazed at what the latest acquisition could be worth and hadn't even realised that Newcastle were involved. Last year someone gave them a folding caravan.

"We get the most amazing things, every day is Christmas around here," says Marion. "Only last week I sold the loudest shirt you've ever seen to a chap whose wife begged me not to let him have it.

"It was sort of buttercup yellow with bright orange flowers and green centres. I had to let it go, Oxfam needs the money."

The Northern Echo on April 30 1951 reported that there'd been a special cheer at the end of the match for Matthews "probably having lost his last chance of a Cup winner's medal."

History knows differently. For another piece of football history, Darlington Oxfam will accept offers on 01325 483926.

Though the story was buried near the foot of a mounatinous story on the morning of the match, an astute front page headline writer soon realised the importance of Newcastle's lucky penny.

The Victorian coin had been given by a supporter to United secretary Frank Watt. Neil Harris carried it in the 1924 final and scored in the win over Aston Villa, Jack Allen carried it in the 1932 final and got both goals in the 2-1 win over Arsenal.

In 1951 the precious penny was brought specially to the Magpies' Buxton training headquarters and given to Jackie Milburn, who carried it onto the field....

In for a penny, what happened to it is nonetheless uncertain. "I've been down this road before and hit a dead end. After the start to the season I just wish we had it now," says club historian Paul Joannou, almost finshed a new book on Newcastle number nines.

Charlie Crowe, still doing talk-ins, forgets what happened to the penny - "I think it must have hit me on the head" - but reckons that if Jackie Milbutn was carrying it, it must have been in his left hand.

"There was always a cigarette in his right hand, even in the Wembley toilet before the cup final."

Without their lucky penny, the Magpies last won a trophy im 1969.

Another cup final though a lesser stage, Mike Robson in Carrville, Durham, discovers programmes while clearing his loft from Brandon United's Sunday best spectacular in 1976.

Formed just nine years earlier, the Co Durham club won everything that season - including the FA Sunday Cup, beating Hertfordshire side Evergreen before almost 4,000 spectators at Spennymoor.

"I just wish they had a European competition for Sunday clubs," said team manager Richie Robinson after the 2-1 win. "The biggest day in village history," said the Echo.

Brandon, who scored through Tommy Holden and Colin Temple, included other familiar Northern League names like Mel Heckley, John Heavisides, Fred Hissett and Tony Brunton.

Mike Robson also sends the programme from the quarter final replay with Birmingham side Newtown Unity (admission 15p, children and old age pensioners 5p) and for the Durham County Sunday Cup tie with local rivals Langley Park Rams Head, admission 10p.

Kenny Carr, still involved with Brandon United, remembers the final fling affectionately. "It was basically a Northern League select team, three players from each of half a dozen clubs.

"Winning the Sunday Cup was really just like winning the FA Cup. We all went back to our little village, marched behind the band up from Browney and had a brilliant night in the workmen's club.

"The whole village turned out for us, it was absolutely wonderful. I just wish we could get a tenth of them today."

The last April weekend of 1976 proved hugely successful for North-East sport. Sunderland clinched the second division championship with a 2-0 win over Portsmouth, Scarborough beat Stratford 3-2 in the FA Trophy final at Wembley and Gosforth RFC beat Rosslyn Park in the John Player final at Twickenham.

Elsewhere, 14-year-old David Whelan won the Durham County boys golf championship after being coached in South Africa, Bishop Auckland batsman Neil Riddell hit a personal best 120 against Darlington RA, Darlington FC under Peter Madden were facing a last day battle for survival and Princess Anne was in hospital (again) after falling from her horse (ditto).