Northern Goalfields Revisited is rich in anecdotes - from the "smoking concerts" of Victorian times to the clubhouse gossip among today's 40 Albany Northern League clubs . . .

l Arriving at a test match in the West Indies, Brian Hunt once realised he'd left his tickets in the hotel room. He flashed his Northern League "all grounds" pass instead - "That'll do nicely" said the gateman.

l Middlesbrough Ironopolis, League champions in three successive seasons in the 1890s, played their first match under "artificial lamplight" in the 1890s. The ball was said to be distinguishable "except in the centre of the field".

l York City registered 746 Northern League players in 1908-09. Only 18 were used. In two seasons, City were bottom and second bottom.

l Redcar, whose changing rooms were a mile walk from the ground, made their first League appearance on September 16 1913. They scored their first goal on Boxing Day.

l After Crook Town's 2-1 win at South Bank in 1903, the visitors were stoned back to the hotel by "a rough crowd".

l Legendary Bishop Auckland goalkeeper Harry Sharratt would build snowmen on the goal line - or read the half-time scores - when things got quiet. A retired teacher, he lives in Cumbria.

l The 1895 FA Amateur Cup semi-final between Middlesbrough and Thornaby was played behind closed doors because of a smallpox epidemic on Teesside. Boro won the final, against Old Carthusians.

l A Durham Challenge Cup final at Feethams ended without the trophy being presented. Crook lad and future agriculture minister Fred Peart had left it under his bed.

l Ernest Armstrong, later to become NW Durham MP, deputy Speaker of the House of Commons and Northern League president, was a no-nonsense half back for Stanley United. Long before Vinnie Jones, he was known - and on the hill top is still remembered - as Psychie.

l 13,000 watched a match between Bishop Auckland and a Nigerian XI in 1949 - nine of the Nigerians played barefoot.

l Tyneside jeweller Ken Redfern, one of many Northern League referees to succeed at the highest level, went an entire season without cautioning a player.

l Marske United introduced their own players' code of conduct in 1998-99. It included a £2 fine for wearing white socks beneath ordinary trousers.

l In 1966-67, the redoubtable Gordon Nicholson's first season as Northern League secretary, not a single game was postponed because of the weather.

l Bishop Auckland played 17 games in 18 days at the end of 1936-37, and won all but two of them.

l Northumberland farmer John Common, Alnwick Town's player/manager in the 1990s, had the unusual habit of leaving animal carcasses in the opposition dressing room.

l Stockton St John's match with South Bank in 1899 was abandoned when the pitch was enveloped by steam from a neighbouring shipyard.

l Ferryhill referee Jeff Ward turned up early for a night match at Esh Winning, inspected the pitch and told the groundsman that the lights weren't very bright. "Neither is thoo," said the groundsman, "the match isn't on until tomorrow."

l Billingham Synthonia went the whole of 1950-51 without conceding a home goal, 'keeper Harry Armstrong saving a penalty in the last match.

l Sunderland A's first three goals in the 1903 match against Darlington St Augustine's were all scored direct from corners.

l A shop which in the 1980s offered a colour television to any Shildon player scoring a hat-trick, ended up giving five to free-scoring striker Doug Grant.

l Stockton centre-forward J Henderson won an overcoat for his three goals - in 1907.