A familiar face is missing from the Hetton Youth League this season. Owen Willougby, who celebrated his 81st birthday last month, is no longer running Trimdon Juniors although the club continues to provide coaching on Saturday mornings for youngsters.

He said: "I helped organise the side which played in the league for nine years but it was getting a bit too much for me and I could not get anyone else to take on the secretary's duties.

"The club continues though and we have qualified coaches helping to bring the best out of the youngsters. I can find people to help out on a Saturday morning but it is becoming increasingly difficult to persuade administrators and players to turn out on a Saturday afternoon.

"It was a wrench to leave the Hetton Youth League. It is a good competition which has produced many talented players over the years."

He believes that watching either Premiership or Football League action on a Saturday afternoon is more attractive to youngsters than playing the game.

"Quite a lot of junior football is now played on a Sunday and I can see that there will be even more. I also think that some of the senior teams will switch to Sundays rather than continue to soldier on, on a Saturday afternoon."

Owen, who became involved with junior football with South East Durham Boys 30 years ago, is continuing his work as scout for Tottenham. Recently, he had two youngsters from Wallsend Boys Club down to White Hart Lane for trials and he regularly takes in either a Premiership or a Football League game on behalf of the London club.

His career dates back to 1950 when he was assistant to George Hardwick when he was player-manager of Oldham Athletic. Owen emigrated to Toronto and during the period 1957 to 1971 managed teams before returning to Trimdon.

He met Malcolm Allison, who was then manager of Crystal Palace and became North-East scout for the club. Terry Venables took over and when he moved to Queens Park Rangers after a spell with Barcelona and then to Spurs, Owen went with him.

He considers the best player he spotted to be Terry Fenwick, who was playing for Camden Square school in Seaham. He signed for Crystal Palace and later played for QPR, Spurs and England.

"I have enjoyed every minute of my association with the game and I am so disappointed that I have had to pull Trimdon juniors out of the Hetton Youth League but old age is catching up on me.