Backtrack briefs

His influence, the column observed in 1999, was in inverse proportion to his assiduously low profile.

A moderniser touted several times for the FA chairmanship - and begged at secret meetings to put himself forward for it - he resigned as a vice-chairman and board member in November 2002 in the wake of chief executive Adam Crozier's sudden departure.

"Concerns over recent developments concerning the running and regulation of the FA's affairs," were cited.

Once goalkeeper for Dans Castle junior school in Tow Law, he has been Durham FA president since 1984 and will retain that position. "A lot of exciting things are going on there. I hope to be involved for a good few years yet," says Frank, 67.

He and his wife Norma now divide their time between a new house in St Andrew's - thus combining his twin loves of golf and Scotland - and a flat in Pity Me, Durham.

For family reasons he won't be at the Slaley shindig, but insists that he wouldn't have been a party pooper. "I shall go out like a lamb," he says.

Buried on page 20 but still spotted by John Briggs in Darlington, the London Evening Standard reports 53 arrests for possession of knives or CS gas - not at Euro 2004, but amid the strawberries and cream of Wimbledon.

Marvelling at the youthfulness of 74-year-old former world women's snooker champion Vera Selby, Tuesday's column thought her as smart as a carrot but wondered what was so noticeably natty about that plant.

Jack Chapman from Hebburn suggests a clue on page 24 of Cream Teas and Nutty Slack, his coruscating history of Co Durham club cricket.

"Tall George Anderson, clean as a new scraped carrot, went to Australia with England XI in 1863-64....."

Anderson was a Bedale lad, playing for Stockton at the time.

Out on that whim, Jack wonders if Durham's Graham Onions is the only post-war first class cricketer with the same name as a vegetable, though he might be accompanied by county colleague Phil Mustard and by Aussie umpire Cec Pepper.

"I had hoped to find an Arty Choke or a Q Cumber but perhaps I was being childish," concedes Jack. R C Garlick, who played before the war for Lancashire and afterwards for Northants, may also put down roots.

Still with natty matters, we turn to last Sunday's third team match between Whickham and Brandon.

Brandon fielded eight juniors and three senior citizens - club secretary Ian Johnson, Keith Lowrie and Peter Hemmings, usually known as Eddie, who sported in the field a straw hat which may most kindly be described as colourful.

"It was a shark hat - you know, like Greg Norman's," he insists.

Johnson, 53, hit his first century in 40 years cricket, 149 not out in his side's 262-6. Whickham subsided to 90 all out, much to the chagrin of a home supporter who'd made several visits to the clubhouse.

"We've seen it all now," he said, "beaten by two old farts, eight kids and a morris dancer."

Less than a year after the death of Owen Willoughby, the indomitable 84-year-old who founded and inspired Trimdon United Juniors and still found time to be Spurs' North-East scout, his kids go from strength to strength.

"Both boys and girls will have sides at all age groups next year," reports new secretary Ian Harper, a Trimdon newsagent.

"Owen was 20 years ahead of his time, people just couldn't keep up with him. We're a club, not a collection of teams."

The Juniors' latest success came when the Under 12 girls won the Durham FA Foundation Cup, beating Teesside Tornadoes 2-1 with goals from 11-year-old Jay Higgins.

They've given the trophy to Owen's widow, Joan. "She was very moved," says Ian.

the only European footballer of the year to have played in the Scottish League (Backtrack, July 6) was George Best, with Hibs in 1979-80.

Brian Shaw in Shildon today seeks the identity of the first footballer to win an England cap while playing for a club outside the top two divisions.

Third best? The column returns on Tuesday.