Two recent events epitomise Martyn Jackson's total commitment to Darlington RA.

Despite being a Middlesbrough supporter all his life, Martyn chose not to travel to Cardiff on the Saturday for his favourite team's memorable Carling Cup victory.

And on the day of the final he was spotted on the Brinkburn Road ground at 6.30am!

"I ended up not going to the Millennium Stadium and instead watched the game on TV at the club. There was no way I was going down on the Saturday in any case since RA were due to play Ferryhill Athletic but in the event, the match was called off," said Jackson who played his first game for the club in 1982.

He had just fielded for 20 overs in Darlington RA's North Yorkshire and South Durham League game against Blackhall which started early.

"I came off the cricket pitch and was asked to play a full 90 minutes for the football side which I agreed to do. It was my debut and I scored so it was a memorable day - playing two different sports one after the other," quipped Jackson.

He stopped playing football on a regular basis five years ago but still occasionally turns out as a substitute.

"It was then that Dave Woodcock and I became involved in the running of the RA and since then we have had many happy memories. Strangely enough, it was a game in which we were defeated that sticks in my mind.

"We went to play Cockfield in the final of the Auckland Charity Cup and lost 4-3 but it was a great game. Nobody had given us a chance but we made Cockfield, who were beating everybody at the time, fight all the way."

RA moved from the Teesside League through the Darlington and District League before joining the Wearside League three seasons ago. In one season they clinched the Auckland and District League championship and Charity Cup, the Darlington Charity Cup and the Sacriston Aged Miners' Cup.

"We are ambitious and our aim now is to step up into the Albany Northern League. We expect to have a stand and floodlights erected during the summer but will need to finish in at least the top two positions in the Wearside League to qualify for promotion.

"Darlington is a big town and should have a team in the ANL," claimed Jackson.

So why was he on the ground at 6.30 am on a bitterly cold Sunday morning?

"David Eckels, who has done a marvellous job looking after the ground, is now working for Middlesbrough at their training pitch.

"One or two of us are looking after the field so I thought I would just pop in to see what needed to be done. In any case, Dave Woodcock and I are at the ground every Saturday morning by 8am."

If enthusiasm is any yardstick to success then the commitment and dedication shown by Martyn Jackson and team manager David Woodcock will surely guide RA up the next step of the ladder.

Saturday's results: Cleadon SC 1, Washington Nissan UK 1; Ryhope CW 3, Ferryhill Athletic 0; Harton and Westoe 2, Annfield Plain 2.