A SEARCH has begun for three football players who hung up their boots in the 1960s.

The achievements of Crook Town Football Club players Ray Snowball, Jimmy McMillan and Eddie Appleby are to be celebrated after 40 years on a Bett Homes housing development in the town.

Wear Valley District Council decided to name streets in the 63-home development after the players, who won a number of FA Amateur Cup medals at a time when the club attracted 17,500 fans.

Developer Bett Homes is appealing to the three players to get in touch if they are still in the area to celebrate the occasion.

Snowball Close, McMillan Drive and Appleby Court will form the layout for Bett Homes' collection of detached family homes, not far from Crook Town's ground.

Club secretary Alan Stewart welcomed the idea, saying Jimmy McMillan was an obvious player to choose for the honour.

He said: "Jimmy is the only person in the history of the FA Amateur Cup to win four medals. He played in all four finals at Wembley.

"He was only 21-years-old when he started, and ten years later he was still playing."

The tribute to the three players has coincided with a publication of a book on the history of Crook Town Football Club, which Mr Stewart helped to write with two other club enthusiasts, John Phelan and Michael Manuel.

The book catalogues the triumphs and disasters of the local team and its players since it was founded in 1889.

Mr Stewart said: "The early days were the most interesting. There was the 1928 scandal, when the club had to be suspended and thrown out of the Football Association because they had been paying amateur players extra expenses.

"There was a big rivalry between Crook and Bishop Auckland, which is probably the most successful amateur team of all time. Apparently, it was Bishop Auckland who blew the whistle on them."

l If Ray, Jimmy and Eddie would like to take part in publicity to mark the occasion, Geoff Williams would like to hear from them on 0191-214 2400.