Two managers with a combined age in excess of 100 years were forced into action during the Bank Holiday programme.

Boldon CA's David Jones played a starring role in his side's 2-1 win at Redcar Town but Vince Kirkup was unable to inspire Stanley United to victory against North Shields.

"Unfortunately, four of the lads were injured playing Sunday football and we only had ten fit players when we arrived at Redcar Town," said Jones who played professionally with Arsenal and Oxford before returning to his native North East.

"I had no alternative other than to play and decided to fill in at full-back where I thought it would be easier to dictate our tactics," added Jones who at 51 is a year older than Vince Kirkup.

"I certainly did not have the pace of some of the Redcar players but felt I was able to use my experience to good effect and obviously the entire team was delighted that we managed to come away with three points."

Before the start of the season, Jones declared that his aim was to achieve a target of 70 points and he needs only another seven out of a possible 12 to meet his objective.

"This is only my second year in charge and I feel that the club is in a good position to move forward - although I hope that I do not have to turn out again!" declared Jones.

Vince Kirkup, 50, played his first full game for five years when Stanley United were also short of players for the Bank Holiday match at North Shields.

"Paddy McArdle and David Craig were injured on Saturday and a couple of other lads were unable to turn out so I had no alternative. I had always said that I would not play once I turned 50 but having been involved with the club as manager for more than 20 years I could not see the team play with a man short," said Kirkup.

Neither Jones nor Kirkup is the oldest player to have figured in the Wearside League this season. The record is held by another stalwart, Marshall Lawson who at 67 played for Annfield Plain in an early-season fixture against New Marske.

"I have had a lifetime association with the Plain. There is not the same

commitment as there used to be and when we were short, I put on a strip to make the numbers up but I am certain that was my last game," said Lawson.

P W D L F A Pts

Nissan 31 25 2 4 102 25 77

North Shields 30 23 4 3 112 19 73

Wolviston 30 20 3 7 90 47 63

*Boldon CA 34 21 3 10 94 58 63

Harton and Westoe 30 19 3 8 98 47 60

Windscale 28 17 5 6 72 34 56

Whitehaven 31 17 5 9 70 53 56

*Redcar Town 31 16 7 8 78 49 52

Stokesley 30 14 5 11 76 58 47

New Marske 27 12 6 9 55 40 42

Ferryhill Athletic 30 13 3 14 66 71 42

Stanley United 29 9 10 10 63 59 37

Thornaby on Tees 28 10 5 13 66 79 35

*Annfield Plain 29 10 2 17 57 78 29

**Birtley Town 28 10 4 14 60 66 28

Ryhope CW 33 6 4 23 41 92 22

Simonside SC 27 6 1 20 24 124 19

Cleadon SC 30 4 4 22 34 93 16

Jarrow 27 3 5 19 33 78 14

Whitburn 33 2 1 30 34 156 7

*Denotes three points deducted

**Denotes six points deducted