Dennis Cowey was just a bit bairn when his father took him to his first Football League match - Sunderland 5 Manchester United 2, old first division, March 4 1939.

Sunderland manager John Cocharne had resigned that morning, Whitburn lad and future Hartlepools United manager Bill Robinson hit four, the miserable crowd was a merry 11,600.

"All I remember is the score and that Johnny Mapson was in goal for Sunderland," admits Dennis, retired headmaster of All Saints primary school in Shildon.

Sixty five years after his League "debut", however, the 74-year-old has just completed the Premiership and Football League set - every tick in the book - and become member number 1,112 of the much-coveted 92 Club.

"It's not meant to be a sprint but it's going to take a hell of a lot to beat 65 years," says club founder Gordon Pearce. "Dennis's book recording the matches is the most detailed I've ever seen."

Dennis is unassuming. "It's no great achievement so far as I'm concerned and I certainly didn't do it for the publicity.

"I've shown that book to five people, not in any bragging sort of way, and they're probably thinking 'Stupid bloke, what on earth's he done that for'?"

Two and a half years ago, his total was 69 and with a programme from every match on the list. Though goal posts kept on moving - and stadia with them - his son persuaded him to break even more new ground.

His first recorded match was Arsenal v Manchester United in August 1948 - while he was on National Service in London - but the Club has accepted the 1939 visit. Diary details include:

Chelsea v Blackpool, 1948; crowd 77,000. "It was the Matthews magic which pulled them in."

West Ham, 1949. "I clearly remember standing on the terraces and hearing that Russian Hero had won the Grand National at 66-1."

Aston Villa, FA Cup semi-final, 1955. "A quagmire, they said the game should never have been played. I'm glad it was, after a tortuous journey in my new Ford Popular."

Sheffield United v Blackburn Rovers 1957. "Just fancied a ride out."

Britannia Stadium Stoke 2002. "Two complimentary tickets from the Britannia Building Society."

National Hockey Stadium, Milton Keynes, April 6 2004, crowd 4,800 to watch Wimbledon against Sunderland. "Who are these Wimbledon fans?"

Milton Keynes was the penultimate venue, if not the last place on earth. Crystal Palace v Sunderland, April 21, finally completed the round Britain tour.

Grounds for celebration? "I didn't tell anyone apart from the chap who took my photograph outside the ground. When I was on 69 there didn't seem many to go and that was my mistake.

"When first I accelerated, if you like, we were arranging holidays and looking round for football matches. In the end we were arranging football matches and looking round for a holiday.

"I was just pleased it was finished, because there were many times I regretted having started."

Margaret, his wife, has been supportive. "I think I'm more thrilled than he is," she says.

He lives in Bishop Auckland, followed the unsurpassable Bishops side throughout the 1950s - "you used to book your Wembley ticket a year in advance" - was a Sunderland season ticket holder in the 60s and recalls the first appearance of "King" Charlie Hurley.

"It was at Blackpool, we lost 7-0 and I've never seen such a performance from a centre half. The following week we lost 6-0 at Burnley and there was a slogan going round about 'Post Hurley for Christmas'. Fortunately he improved after that."

Though his loyalty remains with Sunderland, he also travelled on Darlington and Newcastle supporters' coaches - "don't tell my son" - in his bid to make one and one add up to 92.

"My age didn't matter, everyone was really nice. I never once saw any trouble"

The blackest moments in every sense were overnight coach trips to Portsmouth and Swindon. "There was many a time I wondered what on earth I was doing there."

The worst ground, he thinks, is Brighton's temporary Withdean Stadium home - "the most memorable thing was that the pier burned down the same night" - the best ("though I might be biased") Sunderland's.

Next season the Stadium of Light is likely to form the limit of his ambition. "I still love football, I'll still go to matches, but I'm 74 and there've already been times when I've wondered if circumstances would prevent me from making the 92.

"It's already been 65 years - stupid really, isn't it? I think my travelling days are over."

March 4 1939, when Dennis Cowey took his first step on that long and winding road, was also the day that Middlesbrough Reserves beat Throckley Welfare 10-0 - England international and Boro record scorer George Camsell hitting seven.

"Camsell still seems as sprightly as ever," noted The Northern Echo, kindly. The old lad was 35.

Elsewhere, more than 3,000 watched Kelloe Boys lose to Chesterfield Boys in the English School Shield, Crook Town won for just the second time that season, Hughie Gallacher scored in Gateshead's 2-2 draw with Hull City and Shildon somehow scored six.

Meanwhile in South Africa, the Springboks had reached 423-6 at the end of the second day of the "timeless" final Test. "At this rate," observed the Echo that March morning, "England can expect to bat on Thursday."

Gordon Pearce's inspiration for the 92 Club was chiefly a friend who'd been to all 135 pubs owned by Young's Brewery in Wandsworth. "I never made it myself," he sighs.

His own 92 was completed at Darlington on May 21 1966 when 16,469 saw a goalless draw with Torquay clinch the fourth division runner-up spot for the Quakers, a point ahead of their visitors.

The club was formed 26 years ago but, because of the number of "new" grounds, gained just 11 new members last season.

A Penzance-based Plymouth Argyle fan has done all 92 in separate trips, clocking up 58,000 miles, a Crystal Palace supporter has visited every ground on which Palace ever played - from Thames United onwards.

A sailor completed the full set at Shrewsbury before being sent to the Falklands on HMS Sheffield. The Sheffield was sunk, the sailor survived, his membership details didn't.

"We were able to send him replacements so he was luckier than his friend," says Bristol- based Gordon. "His friend lost his entire York City programme collection."

The most enthusiastic 92 Club member, however, may be the Arsenal fan who not only did the lot in one season but watched every Gunners game as well.

He was a retired FA accountant. "I'm not sure," says Gordon Pearce, "if that explains anything at all."

No catching Swoop

In the absence of Her Majesty at tomorrow's Derby - she's on D-Day duty - David Robinson and friends will be on parade before racing gets under orders.

The 17-year-old Darlington sixth form college student may not be recognisable, however. His aquiline alter ego is Swoop, Newcastle Eagles basketball team's beaky mascot.

"Not many people know that I do it, I'm the Batman of the sporting world," says David, from School Aycliffe.

Swoop and 13 other mascots take part in a televised furlong race to launch Sporting Relief, a nationwide series of charitable events. Will it, unlucky for some, degenerate into the niggly business the football mascots' race became?

"It doesn't matter, they won't be able to catch me," he says.

David, a high-flying hit with Eagles fans, has been swooping to conquer for two years - though one or two still have reservations.

"I suppose it's like when kids first meet Mickey Mouse, some love it and some are petrified," says Ian Wilkinson, his friend and chauffeur.

David's only Derby handicap may be visibility. Eagle-eyed? "I can't see out of the suit."

After the piece a couple of weeks back about Hartlepool lad Jeff Stelling - bright star in Sky's firmament - Brian Eeles in Durham wonders if he's any relation to post-war Sunderland right back Jack Stelling.

Jack - 259 games, eight goals - played for the Usworth Colliery school team in Washington coached by Brian's father - so unassuming that on match days he'd catch the bus to the Wheatsheaf and walk to Roker Park through the crowds.

"He was so highly esteemed that Tom Finney turned out for his benefit without even claiming expenses and Jackie Milburn said he'd have been annoyed if not asked to play."

A colliery plumber, Jack died in March 1993, aged 68. "Unfortunately," says Jeff Stelling, "I can find no family connection whatever."

Questions, questions, and not just from the caller who suggests that Dennis Wise was the first man - not the second after Pat Jennings, as the column suggested last week - to play in FA Cup finals in three different decades.

Jennings' appearances were in 1967, 1979 and 1980 - the last two, says our Mr Peck, were in the same decade. He may have a point.

Tuesday's column sought the identity of the first Football League club to have shirt sponsorship - correctly identified by Steve Smith as Liverpool, maximum letter size two and a half inches, in 1979-80.

Steve, however, recalls that upfront Southern League club Kettering Town beat them to it four years earlier.

The club, whose player/manager was Derek Dougan, signed a £2,500 shirt sponsorship with Kettering Tyres.

When the FA told them to deflate it, the message was changed to Kettering T.

It stood for Kettering Town, said the Doog. Watch your tread, riposted the FA, and threatened a £1,000 fine every time it appeared.

Dougan, now living in retirement near Wolverhampton, had finally to get it off their collective chests.

And finally...

So finally after all this mucking about with mascots, Fred Alderton in Peterlee seeks the identity of the Football League club whose mascot is Chaddy Owl.

Flight of fancy, the column returns on Tuesday.

Published: 04/06/2004