Four former England amateur internationals among their illustrious number - Michael Barker, George Brown, Billy Roughley and Dave Rutherford - a posse of stars of the 60s were reunited at the Arngrove Northern league's annual dinner on Friday.

"Obviously we thought we were better than the players of today," said George. "There's no one who can stand on a ball, who's going to dictate the game for you."

The greater surprise, perhaps, was that the team for which they'd played more than any other weren't kings of the North-East but Queen of the South - the only football club mentioned in the Bible (Matthew 13: 42, so they reckon) or to play at a ground named after a British prime minister.

The catalyst was Allan Ball, Hetton-le-Hole lad and South Hetton miner, who'd been inside left in the Durham County youth team until an injury to the goalkeeper - a promising kid called Jimmy Montgomery - obliged him to don the green jersey.

As a 15-year-old he had four games as Harry Sharratt's deputy at Bishop Auckland before moving up to Stanley United - £5 a week down the pit, £6 for keeping goal up on Windy Ridge.

He'd signed for the Scots in 1962, atop the pit shaft at two o'clock one morning, two corned beef sandwiches and a £100 transfer fee somewhere among the considerations.

Thereafter he made 819 appearances - still a Scottish record for the same club - 507 of them consecutively. When Newcastle United approached in 1965, Queens wanted £17,500. The Magpies wouldn't go beyond £12,500 and signed Willie McFaul instead.

In all that time he was cautioned just once, by legendary Scottish referee Tom "Tiny" Wharton on December 25. "I said something about 'Jesus Christ'. He booked me for blasphemy on Christmas Day."

Now 63, Allan's still a Palmerston Park director, has sold his successful car dealership in Dumfries, was also back across the border for the reunion and for a game of golf with the guys.

For the first two years, he'd stayed in Co Durham. "I've seen me go down the pit at 11pm, finish at 7am, go home, get up again at 12, catch the train up for a midweek match, train back home again and back down the pit by midnight," he said. "It was what you'd call a good shift."

Scottish stereotyping notwithstanding, the £100 transfer fee had been freely given and gratefully received. Stanley United weren't always that lucky.

When Geoff Strong signed for Arsenal they got just a set of white shirts and £50 in cash, grudgingly paid in two installments.

Harry Potts became a Burnley legend only after the Turf Moor side scraped together a measly £25 - "and a game on gettin' that, an' all" recalled 81-year-old club chairman Les Westgarth at the club's centenary in 1990. Jack Howarth went to Chelsea for nowt. Pensioners pleading poverty, probably.

Les had also recalled Stanley's good old days - supporters club, new mower and a waiting list for the 24-strong committee. "It was easier gettin' to be lodge secretary at the pit than it was gettin' on here," he said.

Now the home fires no longer burn in the Little House on the Prairie. United, like so many more, are asunder.

Allan Ball, at any rate, ended his 21-year Queen of the South career in 1983, signed for neighbours Gretna - then newcomers to the Northern League second division - and earned £55 a week more than ever he did with the Doonhamers.

Gretna have a few bob now, too, Brooks Mileson - the ANL's sponsor in perpetuity - also at the dinner. "We envy them, of course, but we wish them all luck in the world," said Allan.

"Brooks seem to be a very nice man. It's just a shame that Gretna got to him first."

Queen of the South, it may be recalled, had another large North-East contingent in 2000 - much to the locals' disgust.

The new manager was former Newcastle United winger John Connolly, who'd been in charge of Ashington of the Northern League second division and brought some likely lads with him.

"If we'd wanted a team full of Geordies," someone wrote to the local paper, "we might as well have signed Jayne Middlemiss."

We'd caught up with them in a pre-season friendly at Stenhousemuir, former Tow Law man Tony Nelson sent off for stamping just as he had been in the 1998 Vase final at Wembley.

Alex Wilson, the Palmerston Park PA man, was a bit worried. "I just hope they don't mind being called English bastards when they go up north," he said, memorably. "We get called that and we're from bloody Dumfries."

Among many others at the Northern League reunion were Neil Marshall, Neil Walton, Colin Aldred, Ralph Wright, Brian Williams and big Arnold Alton, still a regular Backtrack correspondent.

"Most of them should have played for England, too," said George Brown. "It was almost impossible if you were in the North."

Inevitably the conversation turned to who - Geordie or Jock Rutherford - was the fastest thing on two legs. "People can think what they like but I know the truth," said George.

Jock, perhaps slowed a little, has found it so hard to get an Over 40s League game for Houghton Cricket Club this season - "They seem to have adopted a youth policy" he says - that he's helping form a new team in the fifth division next season.

"There are a few of us they won't give a game to. It's an option we're actively pursuing," he says. Jock is 61.

The reunion proved so successful that a golf weekend is planned up in Dumfries. More details of that later.

Still good stuff in the Over 40s League fifth division, of course - double winners Redhouse WMC from Sunderland have won all 28 league games, scoring 173 and conceding just 15.

Anthony Haworth hit 63, Colin Watson 33 and team secretary John Dow 28.

"We're probably younger than most but there were still two or three sides who were pretty decent," says John. "After that, to be honest, we're expecting a bit tougher competition next season."

The Bishop of Durham, principal guest at the ANL dinner, is also planning a golf tournament - at Bishop Auckland on June 19 between clergy of the Church of England dioceses of Durham and Newcastle and their Roman Catholic counterparts.

News of it means we needn't repeat his John Prescott joke, and have indeed been enjoined by his delightful wife not to.

"I don't think there'll be much at stake at the golf, maybe a cup of tea or something," says the Rt Rev Dr Tom Wright.

Bishop Tom - "just a hacker," he insists - will lead the Anglicans. The Rt Rev Kevin Dunn, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, will captain the opposition.

It is to be hoped that Durham's golfers fare rather better than our friends in the diocesan cricket team - despite the biffing batting of Cockerton vicar Jon Lintern, thrashed in the Church Times Cup once again.

Remember how we told last week that, what with the weather and whatnot, the Demon Donkey Dropper of Eryholme hadn't turned his arm over all season. Charlie Walker finally returned to action on Saturday - 5-29 against Trimdon. Planning the club's golden jubilee celebrations in 12 days time, the Demon is 66.

And finally...

the country which won the World Cup and then refused to defend it (Backtrack, May 26) was Uruguay, 1930-34.

Today back to the admirable Allan Ball, one of only two Englishmen to represent the Scottish League. Readers are invited to name the other - we come back again on Friday.