PETER Beedle, heavyweight champion of the NorthEast's fish frying fraternity, is in the national final of the Chip Shop of the Year contest, it was announced this week.

No matter the adage about today's news being tomorrow's fish and chip wrappings, it stirred memories of high days and happy days when every one was a winner.

Invariably known as Chippy - "It was because I was always being chipped, " he insists - Peter was Cockfield's 16-stone goalkeeper in the 1990s, when for seasons on end the club lifted almost every trophy it entered.

Every year there was a presentation evening at the Jersey Farm Hotel outside Barnard Castle, every year more silverware - proper silverware - than a decent-sized branch of Northern Goldsmiths.

Though only an Auckland and District League side, they even reached the Durham Challenge Cup semi-final - "the scourge of Northern League clubs, " concedes the league's millennium history - with Chippy impassable between the woodwork.

"He was an outstanding goalkeeper in a wonderful team. His positional sense and ability to talk to the defence were superb, " recalls former Cockfield secretary John Priestley.

"If he hadn't been 16 stones and such a good advert for his own product, I'm sure he could have gone all the way."

The big lad - frying pig, as they almost said of the great Tommy Lawrence - was going backwards, however, when in a game against Darlington Rolling Mills in 1993 he collided with the goal post, snapping it in two.

The referee wanted to abandon the match, the brothers Bainbridge - both joiners - effected running repairs. "I'd just forgotten where the post was, " recalls the irresistible force. "We had a backlog of games, the lads would have killed me if it hadn't been fixed.

"We had a tremendous side and a tremendous spirit. I maybe could have played at a higher level, but I was very happy where I was."

He'd played for West Auckland in the Northern League, turned out last season for Glaxo in the Over 40s, is now working towards the FA's level two coaching qualification and helping train youngsters at Bishop Auckland St Mary's. He also plans goalkeeping coaching courses, based at Bishop Auckland Rugby Club.

"There are a lot of kids who just get shoved back into goal and have no idea what to do. At St Mary's we don't just teach them football, but social skills, too."

The Auckland and District League now dolefully disbanded, Cockfield contest the Crook League, of which John Priestley is chairman, but with little recent success.

They still play, however, at the verdantly named Hazel Grove ground, from which in 1923-24 the village side reached the FA Amateur Cup semi-final and, four years later, astonished football by getting to the final at Ayresome Park.

Hazel Grove, much visited by groundhoppers, may have seen better days, too.

Peter Beedle remains 16 stones - "I suppose I'm quite agile for my weight" - owns a fish shop in Cockton Hill, Bishop Auckland, but recently sold others in Chilton and Darlington.

This week's accolade is one of many, more awards than many folk have had fish suppers. Britain's best will be announced at a do in a posh London hotel on February 1.

In his shop, a notice claims that the only thing better than fish and chips is fish and chips twice. "I have to tell you, " says dear old Chippy, "that I agree with that entirely."

ANOTHER mortal high ground, the Little House on the Prairie and Stanley United were again recalled in Tuesday's column - and were filmed for BBC2's Culture Programme last night.

It thawed memories for Margaret Elgie, formerly Donnelly, who'd been United's tea lady and much else for 45 years and is now life president.

Now in Sunnybrow, near Willington, Margaret recalls carol singing around Stanley in order to buy the goalkeeper a warmer jumper, recalls walking round the ground with cups of rum and blackcurrant diluted with hot water, recalls hard frosts and hard men, recalls - as had the column - Doug Raine, the diehard dustman.

"I don't know about him getting sine died twice, like you said, but he certainly was once.

"I can't remember what it was for, but it wouldn't have been very nice."

The present Stanley United have resigned from the Crook League, the ground's trust deeds stipulating that future occupants must bear United's name.

Trustee Vince Kirkup, eternally optimistic, reports distinct movement.

"I'm meeting someone soon, but there's definitely something going on. We've paid our full membership of the FA, Stanley United aren't dead yet."

Demon donkey dropper comes of age

AT last we have the answer to one of sport's enduring mysteries - the uncertain age of Charlie Walker, Demon Donkey Dropper of Eryholme and an Unsung Hero finalist in the Echo's Local Heroes awards on November 17. A mole pushes above the autumn earth to report that Charlie, an Eryholme stalwart for 50 years and still consistently taking wickets, marked his 65th birthday a couple of weeks back with a little do at the Chequers in Dalton-on-Tees, across the river from Darlington. Like the incomparable Charlie, it's said, the do was quite quiet. Pension pocketed, his bowling will do the talking come the Spring.

SPORTS shop owner and 1980s Hartlepool United director Mike Gough tells Monkey Business - the Pools fanzine - of the time he went looking for re-election votes at the Football League's annual meeting at the Cafe Royal.

Mike, one of a family of nine children who arrived from Ireland to live above a fish shop, found himself sitting next to one of the game's most familiar figures, who asked what he did for a living.

Duly informed, the corpulent stranger asked if he sold inflatable arm bands for learner swimmers.

After offering advice on swimming lessons and on how to sail a dinghy, Mike duly secured another vote for the Pools.

It was only years later that the irony of the situation became apparent. The other chap was Oxford United and Mirror Group chairman "Captain" Bob Maxwell, apparently lost at sea.

AUSTIN Elliott, a Hartlepool director in Garry Gibson's unforgettable era, marked his 60th birthday last Saturday by playing for Marsden Vets in the Over 40s League.

"I'd like to say I beat three men and scored a blinder from 25 yards, but I can only say I thoroughly enjoyed it, " he acknowledges.

We wrote of Marsden Vets a year ago, of 55-year-old Davey Jones - Davey Jones's soccer - who'd been in Arsenal's youth team alongside Charlie George and Ray Kennedy, of how they'd not won a single point.

Davey, old Adam, had been sent off in the Wearside League the season previously for trying to break up a spat involving his teammate son.

"I was only trying to separate them, " he'd protested.

"Aye, " said the referee, "but not by the bloody throat."

Now the old lads have 19 points from their last seven games. Kenny Clark is 61, Tommy Bewick - old friend of George Reynolds's - 66 and probably getting on too much to get on too much.

Austin, far from Cafe Royal and mahogany boardroom, blew up the balls, swept the dressing rooms, paid the ref. "It's football, " he said, "you just love it."

HOUSE rules: on August 23 we reported on the improbably situated Aston Villa at Quarrington Hill, east of Durham, so called - local legend has it - because its red and white-striped owner vowed to name his new house after the winners of the 1913 FA Cup final between Sunderland and the Villans.

Aston Villa's programme people have now asked for reproduction rights: these days, perhaps, there's little else to write home about.

UNDETERRED by the column's early entry, former England amateur international footballer George Brown has also declared himself among the contestants in the inaugural World Skilful Dominoes Championships, beginning at Tow Law FC's clubhouse from November 18. "I have to be world champion at something, " says George confidently.

Said to take the element of luck from the game, the championships involve each player on opposite sides of the table being given the same hand. Details after 7.30 any evening from Kevin McCormick on 01388 731443.

And finally...

TWO of the many who knew that the closest Premiership or Football League club to the Mersey is Stockport County - Tuesday's question - offer supplementaries. A double header today.

David Whitfield in Bishop Auckland seeks the identity of the Premiership or Football League club which is highest above sea level while Tranmere Rovers superfan and historian Steve Wilson, infallible on the Mersey beat, offers something a little trickier.

Steve's in Darlington, Rovers now managed by fondly remembered exQuakers boss Brian Little. After going 500 minutes without scoring, they've turned to youth and are picking up, he says.

He seeks, at any rate, the identity of 14 players who've scored in the Champions League final and also played in the Premiership - three of them for North-East clubs.

Final word, the column returns on Tuesday.

Published: 04/11/2005