WRITING the history of Crook Town Football Club was a labour of love for three fans who are using the proceeds from the project to help the community.

Club secretary Alan Stewart, committee member John Phelan and lifelong fan Michael Manuel have used money from the sale of their book to start a football coaching scheme in the Crook and Weardale area.

Mr Manuel's son, Richard, who coaches with Sunderland AFC, is touring schools to give pupils extra coaching.

Mr Stewart said: "We were given Lottery grants to write the book and we had to specify what we were going to do with the money we made.''

Mr Manuel, who is a life member of the club, said: "We found out that a lot of the schools in the dales get nothing like this.''

The three also used some of the money for a firework display, on November 5, attended by 600 people, and a Christmas party for children and the elderly.

Mr Phelan said the book had taken the three men a year and a half to research and write.

He said: "We got £3,100 from the Awards for All and £1,000 from Wear Valley District Council. Lintons Printers from Crook were also a great help.''