SPENNITHORNE and Harmby FC, who play in the Wensleydale Creamery League, have returned to their traditional amber and black colours this month, thanks to the sponsorship of a local firm.

The team wore amber and black striped shirts, with black shorts and socks, when they first competed in the Wensleydale League in the Twenties.

Trevor Schofield and Len Sedgely, who played for the club in the Sixties, also wore those colours.

But no-one knows what kit Spennithorne and Harmby wore back in 1905, although a team certainly did exist then because a Willie Metcalfe wrote to a Mr F Dawson in Ireland reporting that they had just lost 1-0 to Leyburn.

Two Dawsons, albeit not related, therefore share a place in the club's pictorial roll of honour at the team's clubhouse in Harmby. For the 1995 cup-winning under 12s team included Michael Dawson, who now plays for Nottingham Forest.

In 1961, Mr Sedgely was in the club's youth team which won the Wensleydale League junior cup.

Soon afterwards he began playing in defence for the senior team and continued in that role, although on a part-time basis at the end, until four years ago!

Mr Schofield, who is now chairman of the club, played alongside him in the mid-Sixties.

In the Seventies, Mr Schofield took on coaching the junior team and was very proud when one of them, David Wintersgill, made his debut with Wolverhampton Wanderers aged 16.

Mr Schofield is now preparing a history of the Wensleydale League and would be grateful for any information which hasn't already been given to him. He can be contacted at Leyburn Auto Discount.

He and George Tunstall, the club secretary, were especially grateful to all those who supported the club and had helped it continue on towards its centenary.

Mr Tunstall said: "Rural sports clubs would find it difficult to survive without the various forms of support which they receive from individuals and groups in the community, whether this is financial or personal involvement helping and supporting the club".

He and the committee thanked Phillip and Adam Holden of Phillip Holden (Rural) for sponsoring the new strip.

Phillip Holden has been their club sponsor for many years, while Adam has been both a sponsor and a player.