TRIBUTES have been paid to a former goalkeeper involved in an accidental collision that ended the playing career of one of football's most enduring characters.

Shiremoor-born Chris Harker was in goal for Bury in a match against Sunderland, at Roker Park, on Boxing Day 1962.

On an icy and snowy pitch, he went into a 50-50 challenge with Brian Clough, the prolific goalscorer, who suffered knee ligament damage which cut short his playing days, but hastened the start of a successful management career.

Mr Harker, who died last week at the age of 77, started his career with Newcastle United, the club he supported as a boy.

He found his path to the Magpies' first team blocked by the likes of Ronnie Simpson and Bryan Harvey and eventually joined Aberdeen, for whom he combined playing duties with his national service.

Former St James' Park colleague Bob Stokoe signed him for Bury in 1962 and Mr Harker spent seven years at Gigg Lane, making almost 200 appearances for the club.

He leaves behind his wife of 56 years, Pat, as well as son Paul, daughters Deborah and Liz, plus six grandchildren and a great-grandson.

Mr Harker's loved ones say they will remember him as a devoted family man, who adored his grandchildren.

Dozens of sympathy cards and bunches of flowers adorn the family home in Darlington.

The couple enjoyed travelling together and Mrs Harker says she has a lifetime of happy memories.

A suitcase crammed with mementoes from Mr Harker's playing career – scrapbooks, newspaper cuttings, team photographs alongside greats like Jackie Milburn – was proudly opened when The Northern Echo paid a visit.

Remembering the infamous collision, Mrs Harker said: "The pitch was frozen, there was a couple of inches of snow on top of the ice.

"The game would never have been played these days. They both went for the ball and it was just one of those things."

Daughter Liz said an article in a national newspaper following Mr Clough's death in 2004 painted her father as being 'proud' of the collision.

She said: "It wasn't the case that he was glad he injured him."

There was certainly no hard feelings between the two men and no blame attached to Mr Harker.

He later played for Grimsby and Rochdale, before a short spell coaching at Darlington, where he settled with his family.

After leaving football, he spent 25 years as a maintenance fitter for Magnet kitchens, followed by a six-year stint as a caretaker at the town's Hummersknott School.

Mrs Harker remembers the night she gave birth to their first child, in 1959.

She said: "Chris was in Farnborough doing his national service.

"On the night I had Paul, Chris was involved in a horrendous car crash."

He was lucky to survive after being thrown from an open-topped sports car and skidding along the road for 20 yards.

Mr Harker died peacefully on Friday (September 5), surrounded by his family.

His funeral will be held on Friday, September 19, at Darlington Crematorium, at 2.45pm.