Brown leading his pride of Lions into battle

It was the year that the Lion reached the FA Sunday Cup final at Woking, a crate of Newcastle Brown in the dressing room - "I believe in brown ale in the dressing room" kit man Gary Cooper had said - and a pre-match regime perhaps less than abstemious.

"I only had four pints all last night, only eight all day," said goalkeeper Keith "Chubby" Halse - "tattooed from top to bottom, especially bottom" observed the column at close quarters - whilst enjoying a last fag before kick-off.

Prepared for it, they lost 2-0. This Sunday the Lion, officially Hartlepool Lion Hillcarter, are again in the national semi-final - against the Fantail, from Liverpool. The game kicks off at 3pm at Billingham Synthonia.

"It's taken far more seriously these days," says Bobby. "The Sunday morning image used to be of players just turning up and thinking they could do it after a skinful the night before, but now you need to be much more strict to be successful. They don't abuse it any more."

In the previous round they'd travelled to Birmingham the previous evening, sat around drinking lemonade and went early to bed, an interesting variation on Saturday night and Sunday morning.

"I was a bit surprised at that myself. It just shows how dedicated they are," says Bobby.

No longer with Chubby Halse to help defend them, the team chiefly comprises Northern League and Wearside League players from the Hartlepool area.

"Other sides are convinced that we pay them, but we certainly don't," says Bobby, the secretary/manager. "It costs them almost £5 a week to play for us, and that's before they have a drink or two after the game, of course."

Fantail, managed by Burnley veteran Paul Cook - previously with Coventry, Wolves and others - have had the opposition watched. The Lion, having seen of Hull based Prestige, the holders, remain confident.

"It probably sounds a bit corny, but after the disappointment seven years ago it would be fantastic to go one better and win the cup," says Bobby.

"The old days have gone, the boys are definitely up for it . . ." And this time it'll be quarter to five before there's a crate of brown ale in the dressing room.

The Daily Telegraph, whose executive news editor is not just a Sunderland fan but a Shildon lad, reports another apparent U-turn by Tony Blair.

The PM, of course, has always claimed to be a Newcastle United fan - notwithstanding the much ridiculed assertion that he sat behind the Gallowgate End in the days when it was standing room only.

Now, however, Sunderland's southern supporters' magazine 5573 carries an interview with Sir Tim Rice - cricket nut, author of the Complete Eurovision Song Contest Companion and lifelong Sunderland supporter - who claims that Blair professed himself "a Sunderland devotee" when they met at a match last year.

The lyricist, also chairman of his local Conservative Association, waxes bluntly. "I think it's bonkers," he says.

If embarrassed by all this, the Prime Minister will perhaps turn to Lord Burns of Portishead, described in another Telegraph piece as "the government's Bob the Builder."

Born Terry Burns, son of a colliery blacksmith from Hetton-le-Hole, the former chief economic adviser to the Treasury is now a director of Queens Park Rangers, fighting for first division survival.

"It's slightly masochistic to support them but I'm temperamentally incapable of choosing a big, fashionable club," he says.

It doesn't explain why his lordship is never seen on the terraces at strictly unfashionable Eppleton. The Hetton-le-Hole side are bottom of the Albany Northern League second division, one win in two and a half years.

Vera Baird QC, intended successor to Mo Mowlam as MP for Redcar and East Cleveland, contemplates a trip to Marske United's FA Carlsberg Vase quarter final with Bedlington on Saturday.

If nothing else there'll be a few beers beforehand with the Northern League chairman and one or two other local heavyweights.

Among the definite absentees, however, will be Vera's dog - it's a Bedlington terrier. "He plays at number 11," she says, impishly. "I don't think his presence would be appropriate."

Don Bradman, mourned worldwide, had a little known title - he was Durham County Cricket Club's "overseas patron."

"He was the most revered figure in the game. We wrote to him when we went first class and got a lovely letter saying he'd be thrilled and honoured to accept," says former County chairman Don Robson.

"We periodically sent him news of our progress and though he never saw us play he never lost interest. As well as being a wonderful cricketer he was also a very fine gentleman."

The county's "English" patron is long serving former wicket keeper, chairman and big cheese maker Arthur Austin, now 92 and as smartly as ever on parade at last Friday's annual meeting. "Arthur," says our man in the back row, "is still as sharp as a tack."

Cleveland Campaign for Real Ale's beer festival at the Arc Centre in Stockton was enlivened not just by talk of Fussy Farndale - Eric Smallwood insists that he was Great Ayton's goalkeeper in the 1930s, further information welcomed - but by news of higher things.

Eric has a spoof letter that's been kicking round the Internet, allegedly from the Glamorgan Country House Hotel near Cardiff to Sir Alex Ferguson.

Manchester United, it may be recalled, were so confident of reaching the FA Cup final that they pre-booked accommodation there.

"Regarding your reservation for a party of 22 over the weekend 11-13 May, my assistant manager has pointed out that this is Cup final weekend.

"Given that I am led to believe you are involved in association football, I wondered if you would like us to install a big screen so that you can watch it."

Ever more in speedway's slipstream, former Darlington FC fanzine editor Steve Harland admits to having visited Feethams only three times this season - and hasn't seen them beaten.

"Life's rich pageant has moved on, I'm sure the football club won't miss me," he says.

Other interests include an historical website covering Middlesbrough speedway, likely to be promoted by Boro lad Jittendra Duffil - studying at Bradford to be an optician and riding for Mildenhall Fen Tigers.

Steve hopes to have website details on Jittendra's bike fairing and leathers.

Those unable to tread that fast can get further details from him on 01642 656803.

A note from Mr A Robertson in Darlington. "I would like to know the names of some of the men who fought in The Arena in Darlington. You will have to dig deep with this one."

We may also need someone else to do the spadework. Can any reader help?

THE four Premiership or Football League teams with claret and blue prominent in their first choice colours (Backtrack, February 23) are West Ham, Aston Villa, Burnley and - the hard one - Scunthorpe United.

Brian Shaw in Shildon today seeks the identity of the only club to have played in an FA Cup final on five different grounds - the really smart might even name them.

The final words, again, on Friday

Published: Tuesday, 27 February, 2001