Horden are to hold a testimonial game for evergreen club servant Geoff Wade, who has been connected to the club in various ways for nearly 40 years.

Centre half Wade made over 900 appearances for the club over 20 years, before he moved on to become assistant manager and then manager.

He was manager of possibly the club’s greatest ever achievement, when they battled their way through to the first round proper of the FA Cup in 1981, only to lose to former winners Blackpool by a single goal. The club has now decided to make him a vice president, and stage a testimonial game, sometime in September. Horden secretary John Stubbs said: “Geoff has shown incredible loyalty, and a testimonial is long overdue. We hope that some players from Geoff’s era will be able to appear for a few minutes in his testimonial game.”

Wade also managed Ferryhill and Crook Town in the league.