NEWCASTLE United manager Bobby Robson came across a footballing adversary from his youth yesterday.

The former England boss rekindled memories of his younger days in the County Durham pit village of Langley Park, while opening of a new Aged Mineworkers' homes development.

Among the first residents moving into Whitwell Court, in Gilesgate Moor, Durham, are Norman and Irene Kitching, Newcastle fans in a largely Sunderland supporting area.

Mr Robson was given a guided tour of their new home and enjoyed a brief kickabout with Mr Kitching on the lawn outside the couple's two-bedroomed bungalow.

Mr Kitching surprised his guest by revealing he probably encountered him in his youth, before Mr Robson went on to find fame with West Bromwich Albion and Fulham, as a player, and even greater heights as manager of Ipswich, England, PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona and now Newcastle United.

"I'm 68 and there's only a few months between us, and I'm pretty sure I will have played against Bobby as a 15-year-old in our teenage days in the Durham Junior League," said Mr Kitching.

"I lived at Brandon and played for Broom Park and Bobby played in Langley Park."

Mr Robson worked for two years at the pit, playing local football, before signing professional forms at the age of 18.

He said: "If you add together my father's 51 years, my brother's 47 years and my two, then that's a century of work down the pit. I think that should guarantee us the best house on the estate," he joked, as he unveiled a plaque marking the opening of the £500,000 development.

In thanks for his efforts, the Durham Aged Miners' Association's vice-president, Gordon Parkin, presented Mr Robson with a miners' lamp.

The Newcastle United manager added that it was the first trophy he had won in his time at United.