THE search is on for people who experienced the nail-biting 1954 FA Amateur Cup final between North-East non-league rivals Crook Town and Bishop Auckland.

Gerard McCabe, originally from Consett, County Durham, would love to hear from anyone who has memories of the tense encounter for a book he is planning to write.

More than 100,000 people packed Wembley to watch the final, only to witness a 2-2 draw.

The two sides also drew 2-2 at a replay, before Crook Town finally clinched the trophy after a second replay.

Mr McCabe, who now lives in Lancashire and is headteacher at a special school in Burnley, is hoping to interview dozens of people for the book.

"I think it is a classic story. What must have happened in Crook and Bishop Auckland for a few weeks must have been unbelievable," he said.

He plans to donate the proceeds from the book to County Durham Cheshire Home, in Crook, where his sister, Anne Smith, who has multiple sclerosis, is a resident.

Mr McCabe will be visiting Crook shortly and is asking anyone who can help him, particularly with photographs, to get in touch. He can be contacted at 140 Keighley Road, Colne, Lancashire, BB8 OPJ, or on (01282) 866995.

l Peter Jeans, of Australia, is looking for Frank McAdam, a friend he knew in Penang, Malaysia, in the early 1960s.

Mr McAdam worked for McAlister Shipping. In 1990, he was living in Perthshire, after spending some years in Hong Kong. He is now believed to be located in Spain. There are three grown-up children and Mr McAdam would be in his sixties.

Mr Jeans can be contacted at PO Box 117 Bindoon, Western Australia 6502 or by .e-mail at jeanspj