It's that time in the football season when cups are won and championships decided and the local scene is certainly busy at the moment.

The culmination of a season's slog can be joy or, as Bishop Auckland Under-15s found at Fratton Park last week in the English Schools Trophy final, heartbreak. These youngsters shouldn't be down for too long though, they should be very proud of what they have achieved.

Unbelievably the team, which will split up at the end of this season, has only lost two competitive games in three years. That is a remarkable achievement at any standard and well done to everyone concerned.

Other winners include Spraire RA who beat Hurworth Albion in the final of The Northern Echo Darlington Invitation League Division One Cup, Thorns who won the Spennymoor Sunday League, Leadgate Golden Lion who took the Consett Sunday League title and Dunston who are hoping to add the league cup to their Division One trophy. I know that right across the region there are players of all ages and abilities who put their heart and soul into grass roots football and they all deserve a medal.

Darlington has a world champion! Not something we can often say is it. Mike Trees became champion in the World Masters 10k Road Race held in New Zealand and to crown his achievement he was named British Duathlete of the Year 2004. It must take incredible dedication to reach this level of fitness and I really hope Mike succeeds in his ambition of qualifying for the duathlon championships next month. The dualthon is a gruelling event which sees competitors run for 10km before getting on their bikes for a 40km race, with a further 5km run to come after that. It sounds like a form of torture to me! Good luck Mike!

It's good to see local business backing grassroots sport. While the professional teams can rake in millions of pounds worth of sponsorship deals a helping hand from a local company can mean a lot to an amateur team or league. Well done to Transmore Van Hire for helping fund the dreams of two talented young snooker players, Morton Palms for sponsoring the Under-13s section of the 2004 Darlington RFC Junior Rugby Festival and Darlington Building Society which is backing the North Yorkshire and South Durham (NYSD) League for the 14th successive year, a record for local cricket.

Don't forget to join me and the rest of the team tomorrow on 96.6tfm as Middlesbrough play their final home game of the season against struggling Manchester City, no doubt the Carling Cup will be in evidence after game as the players salute the fans. Hartlepool will be hoping the match at Swindon isn't their last of the season with the play-offs beckoning and First Division football a real possibility - imagine Pool v Leeds United next season! Darlington, with their off-field future still uncertain, visit Scunthorpe. The fun starts with Ditchy, myself and Terry Cochrane at noon then we get down to the serious business live from all the local games from 2pm. Finally call Tom Davies to chew over the day's games from 5pm.