THE team sheets read straight from a Who's Who of North-East football.

The region's top five clubs put league rivalry aside for one memorable night, for the sake of the two little girls who have lost their beloved dad.

Newcastle played a combined Sunderland and Middlesbrough XI last night to help provide a secure future for the family of former junior striker Gary Walton, who met a violent death during a night out in his home village of Coundon, County Durham.

His widow, Susan, and football-mad Laura, 11, and eight-year-old Kara were among a sell-out crowd at Spennymoor United's Brewery ground.

Sunderland manager Peter Reid and Middlesbrough boss Bryan Robson had arrived in the same taxi, such was their determination to help the family of a fellow pro.

England manager Kevin Keegan sent a signed ball and shirt to be raffled.

Gary's friend and ex-clubmate, Alan Shoulder, arranged the game as part of a fundraising mission to support the girls and their mother, Susan.

Mrs Walton said: "We are overwhelmed by the number of people who have supported us.

"Gary wouldn't have believed all these players would have turned out just for him.

"When something like this happens you lose faith in human nature at first. But then you realise that there are not so many bad people after all, and people can be really kind."

On the pitch, it was Robson who struck the first blow, rising to an inch-perfect cross from Reid's assistant Adrian Heath.

Chris Waddle, who played with Gary at St James's Park 20 years ago, travelledfrom Sheffield to show his old skills.

The final score was .Sunderland/Middlesbrough 5, Newcastle 2.

The teams: Sunderland/Middlesbrough: Jim Platt, Mark Proctor, Mick Horswill, Paul Atkinson, Gary Bennett, Paul Bracewell, Bryan Robson, Peter Reid, Adrian Heath, Steve Gibson (Boro chairman), Terry Cochrane.

Newcastle: Kevin Carr, Brian Honour, John Carver, Mick Martin, Dave Barton, Peter Haddock, David McCreery, Chris Waddle, Archie Gourlay, Alan Shoulder, Micky Barker.

Scorers: Bryan Robson, Terry Cochrane, Wayne Edgcumbe, two, Paul Atkinson.

For Newcastle: Brian Honour, Andrew Sinclair.

Referee: Alan Wilkie