The cream of the crop down Wensleydale way

Charlie was among many big football names camped at Catterick during National Service - several of whom continued the army game in the Wensleydale League.

John Charles captained his regimental team, Ronnie Simpson - Newcastle United and Scotland - kept goal beneath the sycamore trees at Spennithorne, Shay Brennan was Middleham's skipper before captaining Manchester United.

England internationals Tom Finney and Albert Quixall were also at Catterick, Matt Busby lodged with Miss Olive Turner at Middleham - who advised him that "something to do with football" wasn't much of a career for a gentleman like himself.

Particularly, however, Derek Slade's parish magazine piece records the exploits of Charlie Wayman, late of Newcastle, Southampton, Preston, Middlesbrough and Darlington.

"When he was conscripted into the Royal Navy they didn't believe his stated occupation until he scored six goals in eight minutes," says Derek.

After scoring 73 in 100 League games for Southampton - they gave him lifetime use of a holiday villa in gratitude - Charlie was persuaded by Tom Finney to join Preston.

"I had a bad leg, but Tom said I could play better on one leg than most men on two," he told Derek.

Now 80, Charlie is a long time resident of a nursing home in Bishop Auckland.

Though it might be supposed horse racing territory, Middleham's magazine also carries football confessions from the Rev Alan Sirman - which may be considered a splendid name for a clergyman - of that parish. Though he's only been once to their ground, when two other teams played, and has never owned so much as a scarf in the colours, Mr Sirman, like several of the best people, is an incorrigible Arsenal fan.

With a script that might be entitled The King and I, 17 Durham University students are back from a missionary visit to bring cricket to the mountain kingdom of Lesotho.

"We made tremendous progress. I think they were really appreciative," reports Dr Grenville Holland, the team manager.

Among the world's poorest countries, Lesotho is completely surrounded by South Africa and linked to the Diocese of Durham. Cricket loving bishop Michael Turnbull gave the team a reception before leaving.

"The Lesothans have a natural eye and a natural throwing arm," reports Dr Holland. "They herd cattle by throwing stones, hit the left horn and they turn left, the other and they turn right."

Their footwork leaves something to be desired, however.

Expected to stay 20 minutes, King Letsie III turned up at the team dinner for three hours. The following day he unexpectedly arrived at a series of matches organised by Durham's combined colleges - mainly involving young Lesothans - and stayed all morning.

"He understands cricket because he was at Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire but he still needed a bit of convincing about its importance. We've given him a lot to think about," says Dr Holland.

Ben Wicling, a sports degree student from Stockton, remains in Lesotho as national director of coaching, assisted by fellow Stockton student Rob Johnson.

Grenville Holland, meanwhile, is appealing for any unwanted cricket equipment - bats, pads, clothing, what have you - to be included in the next Durham diocesan shipment to Lesotho.

"Many of the youngsters have no form of cricket clothing at all," he says. "Everything will go to a proud new owner." Out of university hours, he's on 0191-384-2931.

Concerned that it seemed a long time since an annual meeting - "if they've had one in the past four years, they forgot to tell me" - Darlington shareholder Richard Jones wrote to George Reynolds at the spanking new stadium, where the chairman is now based. There's also a designer postcode, Richard discovers - DL2 1GR.

More news from DL2 1GR (or strictly DL1 5JB, still identifies the Feethams ground.)

Jerry Ward and friends were corporate guests in the Ambassador Suite before the Kidderminster match - the one at which the 1966 promotion team was reunited - when Quakers' PR director Luke Raine came across to ask if all was satisfactory.

Jerry, from Richmond, mentioned that he knew a young disabled man - "Though he can't speak, his eyes light up at the mention of Darlington FC" - and asked if it might be possible to get an autographed programme.

Luke promised to get the 1966 side to autograph one and the present team a second. Though sixties full back John Peverell happily sorted the first at half time, the party left before again seeing Luke Raine.

Last Monday, however, Luke contacted their hosts, identified the intended recipient and had the second programme delivered. As Jerry Ward says, among all the negative things in football these days, praise where praise is due.

Negative? There to film the reinvigorated Stan Cummins, Tyne Tees Television cameras made a rare foray into the Over 40s League on Saturday - and captured two players sent off for dissent in the match between Sunderland Catholic Club and Ferryhill Greyhound.

It was as naught, however, compared to the Over 40s game between Houghton-le-Spring and Barnard Castle - abandoned with five minutes remaining when a Barney player was shown the red card but refused to identify himself.

"If found guilty, he's looking at 42 days suspension for refusing to give his name and 112 days for causing the game to be abandoned," says Durham FA secretary John Topping.

And Over 40s League secretary Kip Watson? "They just get blooming dafter," he sighs.

A little belatedly, we learn of the death after Christmas of Tommy Anderson, one of the region's great sporting all rounders.

He captained England at tennis, was several times a reserve in the national rugby team and represented Co Durham at tennis, rugby and golf.

At school he was also long jump champion and excelled at cricket and football; at Cambridge he won a half-blue for fives and put his back into rowing.

Born in South Shields and educated at Durham School, he practised rugby body swerves by dodging trees, largely successfully, as he ran down the pavement. He made 27 Durham rugby appearances and also represented Hampshire. He died in Leamington Spa, aged 92.

Ken Houlahan, the Evenwood Town manager who has three degrees in sports science and related disciplines, has completed a revealing but slightly lengthy questionnaire for the Albany Northern League magazine.

Among the likely cuts is the eye opening disclosure that Sheffield Wednesday's Premiership Academy youngsters were fed fried egg sandwiches on the way to matches.

Neither Ken now the new amply qualified club secretary, whose degree is in nutrition, are thought to consider it the staff of life.

... and finally

The player who scored Sunderland's first and last goals in the third division (Backtrack, January 24) was Keith Bertschin, signed for £32,000 from Stoke City and last heard of selling insurance in Solihull.

Fred Alderton in Peterlee, who as always knew that one, today seeks the identity of the former Football League club who played in a public park.

More shots in the dark on Friday.

Published: 28/01/2003