Archive
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Pensioner's family speaks out after confrontation
The family of a pensioner who died after a confrontation with a group of youths near his home have spoken of their shock. Harry Cook, 73, began to feel unwell shortly after an alleged altercation with three youths near his home in West Bank Road, Ormesby
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Time to rebuild says Kyle
AN HONEST Kevin Kyle finally acknowledged Sunderland's season as a Premiership club was doomed when he uttered the prophetic words "it's mission impossible". Kyle bowed to his club's inevitable fate after the ten-man Black Cats suffered their 19th reversal
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Bishops draw ends run
Bishop Auckland's depressing run of defeats finally came to an end when they picked up a point in a goalless draw at Shepshed in the UniBond first division. Bishops last picked up a point way back on October 18th at Kendal. Manager Brian Healy, who went
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Mayor defends casino move
A MAYOR has defended his bid to bring a super casino to Teesside. An inter-faith churches group has sent an open letter to Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon reminding him of his social responsibilities. They are worried about the social consequences a casino
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On TV
Agatha Christie's Marple (ITV1) CSI: NY (five) Law And Order: Criminal Intent (five) UNEXPECTED as it was, celebrity skater John Barrowman being chucked off ITV1's Dancing On Ice wasn't the most shocking thing to be seen on television at the weekend.
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Region leading the way in MMR vaccine take-up
THE North-East has the highest take-up of the controversial MMR vaccine in the country, according to figures released today. The study shows that in 2004-5, 80.4 per cent of children in the region were immunised with the combined measles, mumps and rubella
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Mowden to strengthen
DARLINGTON Mowden Park will begin casting around for reinforcements this week after Saturday's 39-3 defeat at Fylde plunged them into the third relegation spot in National Three North. They will not know for certain until the end of the season whether
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Knifepoint robberies: vigilance called for
POLICE in Darlington have urged the public to be vigilant following a series of knifepoint robberies in the town. Nine late-night shops have now been victims of the robbers over the past few weeks and police are appealing for help catch the culprits.
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Plan to turn Feethams into estate meets mixed reaction
PLANS to develop Darlington Football Club's old stadium have received a mixed reaction. Feethams, the former home of the Quakers, could be turned into a housing estate after Darlington Cricket Club, which owns the ground, outlined plans to sell it. The
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Peace protestors call for withdrawal of troops
A PEACE rally held at the weekend called on the Government to withdraw British troops from Iraq. The Stop The War demonstration at Grey's Monument in Newcastle was attended by about 100 people. Some were peace activists keen to urge Prime Minister Tony
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Council award
Wear Valley District Council, working in partnership with Sones Landscaping, has been praised for its work in the public sector. The partnership was runner-up in the parks, open spaces and horticultural services category at the first Performance Networks
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Residents urged to improve environment
RESIDENTS are being encouraged to follow the example of a local village group and join a campaign to clean up the environment. Darlington Borough Council is hoping more groups like Heighington's Parish Litter Group can be formed. The group was set up
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Group to start rehearsals
A YOUTH theatre and dance group is to start rehearsals for its latest production - The Chronicles of Narnia. The Tearaways from Shildon have finished their third successful pantomime which took to the stage last month and are now working hard on the CS
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Echo readers send pictures to boost posties' photograph exhibition
AN exhibition of photographs of postmen on their rounds in decades gone by has received a boost, thanks to a report in The Northern Echo. Readers have sent in a batch of other old pictures to add to the display in the delivery office at Barnard Castle
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Police launch drugs raids in operation to clean town
DRUG dealers have been issued with a tough warning following three raids in a south-west Durham town. Police in Shildon say there is more to come following the raids in three streets in the town as part of a clean-up operation. On Thursday and Friday
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Attack leaves woman in shock
A YOUNG woman was left in a traumatised state after she was attacked as she walked home. Police are appealing for witnesses to the attempted robbery, which took place in Bishop Auckland, at about 7pm on Friday, January 27. The 20-year-old was walking
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Cleadon extend lead at the top
Cleadon SC extended their lead at the top to five points, but lowly New Marske almost produced a shock. The home side were favourites, but Trevor Williams reduced the Seasiders' arrears in the 80th minute, it was all to play for. Despite exerting late
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Fun cross-country race to support African charity
A CROSS-COUNTRY run next month will raise money for an African-based charity. Entrants will run a 5km course around the grounds of the Maiden Castle Sports Centre, in Durham, and receive a medal on completion. There is a £5 minimum donation to enter,
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A tale of fantasy and floating heads
ARTIST and illustrator turned director Dave McKean had unusual instructions for the stars of his first feature film MirrorMask. Stephen Fry was asked politely to keep as still as he possibly could as his head was filmed as he spoke his lines. Only his
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Free service aims to save lives
FIREFIGHTERS are offering free life-saving advice to householders in Thirsk and Stokesley. They will carry out fire safety checks in homes, supply and install free smoke alarms and help with fire escape plans. They will also advise on safety issues, from
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College students seeking help to fund their yearbook
STUDENTS are raising funds for a project to preserve their school days for posterity. Twenty pupils from Northallerton College are working on a yearbook. The publication will be presented to every student who finishes this year. It will be accompanied
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Youngsters' Big Brother movie hits the big screen
YOUNG film-makers will be making their big screen debut tomorrow after a three-year project. The Grangetown Coyotes, aged nine to 17, will join an invited audience at Redcar's Regent Cinema to watch the premiere of Sub Zero tomorrow. It will also get
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Thai salmon curries replace gingerbread men at classes
JUNIOR Jamie Olivers are being urged to get their aprons on and knives out to join a children's cookery class with a grown-up twist. Forget gingerbread men and fairy cakes, youngsters at Cooking Academy, at Stockton's Arc centre, are more likely to be
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Work goes on to cut out bad behaviour
STRONGER links are being formed after a decision to base an officer at a police station to tackle anti-social behaviour. Hartlepool police and staff from the Safer Hartlepool Partnership's Anti-Social Behaviour Unit (Asbu) are working more closely than
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Airport's safety fear over wind turbines
NEWCASTLE International Airport has objected to plans to build a wind farm because bosses fear it will put passengers at risk. Tynedale District Council is considering plans to erect turbines at Shotleyfield, Shotley Bridge, near Consett, County Durham
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South Shields ready to blow whistle on eleven year Northern League spell
Second division South Shields appear certain to resign from the league this week after owner John Rundle decided to pull the financial plug. Shields were due to play Alnwick on Saturday, but Rundle contacted team manager Paul Bennett the night before
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Trust's smoking ban could extend to people's homes
A HOSPITAL smoking ban could be extended -into patients' own living rooms. The move is part of a proposed crackdown across the 1,000-bed South Tees Hospital Trust, which could ban smoking anywhere on hospital property from July 1. As part of the guidelines
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Missing woman found safe and well
A woman who has been missing from home for over a month has been found safe and well. Vanessa Lynne Wilson, 49, went missing from her fathers house in Brunton Street, Darlington, on New Year's Day. The family of the mother-of-three had been concerned
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Peace protestors call for withdrawal of troops
A PEACE rally held at the weekend called on the Government to withdraw British troops from Iraq. The Stop The War demonstration at Grey's Monument in Newcastle was attended by about 100 people. Some were peace activists keen to urge Prime Minister Tony
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Army duo show fighting spirit back on home ground
ARMY regulars Alan Shepherd and Danielle Hodgkinson returned to their roots to take the honours in the fourth Start Fitness North-East Harrier League fixture at Gateshead. Shepherd, a 36-year-old staff sergeant who has just secured an 18-month posting
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Bates is delighted to be back
GUY BATES' fledgling career has already taken the Tynesider to the other side of the world, but after making his Darlington debut at the weekend, he admitted: "It's good to back". Bates replaced Kyle Lafferty as a 69th minute substitute on Saturday for
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The Lifeblood Appeal
As part of The Northern Echo's Lifeblood campaign, which aims to encourage people to give blood, here are details of forthcoming donor sessions in the region: Today * Village Hall, Belbrough Lane, Hutton Rudby, 2.30pm to 7pm * Methodist Church Hall, Neville
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Go for Sedgefield double act
HOWARD JOHNSON and Graham Lee have been unstoppable at Sedgefield this season, so it'll be no surprise if the combination win the first couple of races on the card with Balyan and Zeitgeist. Apart from the fact Balyan (1.30) failed to oblige favourite
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Lack of cash deflects some of the blame for McCarthy
"McCarthy should go," vehemently insisted Sunderland fan number one on the train just approaching York station on Saturday. "And who would come in and do a better job on similar resources? He's had no money to spend," said fan number two defending his
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'Lives are in danger' if energy prices rise
SOARING fuel prices could plunge thousands of households into poverty and cost lives, consumer watchdogs warned last night. The warning follows reports that British Gas is on the verge of announcing a 25 per cent increase in fuel bills - thought to be
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Wards are shut after outbreak of virus
SEVEN wards at a hospital have been hit by a virus that causes sickness and vomiting. Dozens of elderly patients at York Hospital have been struck down with the Norwalk virus. The infection is easily spread from person to person through the air. Patients
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Angry fans turn on McClaren as inept Boro plumb new depths
WHEN Middlesbrough, a club who have managed to escape the sort of crisis talk that has engulfed both their North-East Premiership counterparts this season, descend into chaos you know there is a problem. Not since Steve McClaren took over in the summer
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Quakers' defensive unit providing the platform for promotion charge
When Joey Hutchinson was stretchered from the pitch at Carlisle United on Boxing Day, he left behind a huge void and a question mark hanging over Darlington's defence. Quakers had failed to find an effective, regular defensive line-up and Hutchinson being
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Region rock bottom in success survey
THE North-East has finished bottom in a survey of how the regions compare in categories such as life expectancy and employment rate. Business leaders in the region have called for greater co-operation between different organisations to resolve the problems
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'How I found fame from grandad's ghost'
He has an Ethiopian spirit guide called Sam and is one of the most famous mediums working in television today. Darek Acorah tells Lindsay Jennings how his grandson may have inherited his gift too. DEREK Acorah was six years old when he had his first psychic
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Fan with 'passion' will not face ban
A DISGRUNTLED football fan who hurled his season ticket at Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren will not be banned from the ground because the club "understands that kind of passion". Chairman Steve Gibson said the fan would have his ticket returned and
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Stephenson gets his wishes as Pool show their mettle
PAUL Stephenson asked for two things ahead of Saturday's managerial debut. Hartlepool United's temporary boss wanted, on a personal note, to enjoy the occasion and for his side to give a performance that would be appreciated. A goalless draw against a
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A good breakfast helps children concentrate
THE type of breakfast your child eats really does matter, according to research carried out in North-East schools. Scientists from Northumbria University gave different types of breakfast cereal to two groups of primary school children from all over the
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Go for Sedgefield double act
HOWARD JOHNSON and Graham Lee have been unstoppable at Sedgefield this season, so it'll be no surprise if the combination win the first couple of races on the card with Balyan and Zeitgeist. Apart from the fact Balyan (1.30) failed to oblige favourite
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A tale of fantasy and floating heads
Dave McKean loved the challenge of his first feature film, but some of the actors found their roles a little strange, he tells Steve Pratt. ARTIST and illustrator turned director Dave McKean had unusual instructions for the stars of his first feature
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We can recover from this situation claims Boro boss
HAVING endured his most difficult afternoon as Middlesbrough manager, a wounded Steve McClaren last night moved to reassure supporters that he is the right man to take the club forward. A comprehensive 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday - that was
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Fit-again Russell simply happy to be back
SAM RUSSELL may have played his part in keeping Darlington's fourth consecutive clean sheet at the weekend, but even last season's player-of-the-year felt a certain amount of trepidation on his return to the side at Boston. The 23-year-old made his first
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Story success proves a springboard to career for award-winning author Jan
WINNING the national short story competition run through The Northern Echo has proved a springboard for the writing career of Jan Hunter. The teacher, from Stokesley, North Yorkshire, won last year's competition with Unconditional Love, a harrowing story
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How I found fame from grandad's ghost
DEREK Acorah was six years old when he had his first psychic experience. It was on the landing of his grandmother's Victorian terraced house in Liverpool as he rushed down the stairs, having been called for tea. "This man just suddenly walked through
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Silver salute for Shearer
LATER today, Newcastle United will open a new museum in the Gallowgate End of St James' Park to commemorate the leading figures from the club's illustrious 125-year history. Featuring artefacts such as Jackie Milburn and George Robledo's FA Cup winners
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ICT mark accolade
A SECONDARY school in Darlington has been awarded an information technology mark. Longfield School received the ICT mark in recognition of its use of computers to support all pupils and all school activities. The mark is awarded by Becta, the Government's
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Solution sought to create room for fire engines
ENGINEERS will today assess parking problems that are forcing fire engines to drive on the wrong side of the road. Firefighters have told how they have to manoeuvre between awkwardly parked cars in Saltburn, east Cleveland, and called for urgent talks
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Residents urged to improve environment
RESIDENTS are being encouraged to follow the example of a local village group and join a campaign to clean up the environment. Darlington Borough Council is hoping more groups like Heighington's Parish Litter Group can be formed. The group was set up
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Readers boost postie photograph exhibition
AN exhibition of photographs of postmen on their rounds in decades gone by has received a boost, thanks to a report in The Northern Echo. Readers have sent in a batch of other old pictures to add to the display in the delivery office at Barnard Castle
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Honouring a goalkeeper struck down in his prime
A goalkeeper who died days after suffering terrible injuries during a game has been honoured with a memorial service in his home town. Jimmy Thorpe was repeatedly kicked in the head and body while keeping goal for Sunderland against Chelsea in 1936. The
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Secondary school awarded specialist status
A SECONDARY school is celebrating after being awarded specialist sports school status. Risedale Community College, in Hipswell, near Catterick Garrison, had to raise £50,000 for the bid to be considered. But receiving specialist status means the school
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Teachers sample work experience
TEACHERS from a North Yorkshire school have gone on work experience. Catherine Clark, Peter Budd and Arthur Crompton, from Boroughbridge High School, spent a day at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, near York. It was organised by the North Yorkshire Business Education
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Woman smuggled drugs into jail in bra
A WOMAN agreed to smuggle drugs to a friend's boyfriend during a prison visit. But Maxine Lowe's "clumsy attempt" to pass on heroin and tranquilliser pills was easily spotted by prison officers at Durham Jail. Durham Crown Court heard they intervened
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McClaren pays the perfect compliment
STEVE McCLAREN last night paid Alan Shearer the perfect compliment by admitting Middlesbrough will be glad to see the back of the former England striker when he retires. Shearer's record-breaking goal against Portsmouth means the wait for him to beat
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Allotments site turned into garden
FORMER allotments in Stockton have been transformed from wasteland to a community garden. The site, in Oxbridge Lane, now features a conservation area and a sensory garden. There are also fruit bushes and trees to attract wildlife and local residents,
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Time-wasting 999 calls will be highlighted in campaign
THOUSANDS of time- wasting 999 calls that are risking lives in emergencies will be highlighted in a radio campaign. Calls have been made to 999 operators to report an electricity fault, ask for help after a car tyre puncture and to check bus times. Of
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06/02/06
CRIME FIGURES: THE recently published British Crime Survey ignores the wealth creators of the country - small businesses. Neither fraud nor "commercial" crime are recorded in the official survey. A study carried out by the Federation of Small Businesses
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Patrick on top of the world after climb for wife
WIDOWER Patrick Moran almost gave up on a climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro - but was spurred on by the memory of his wife. Dizzy spells and sickness plagued Mr Moran, who is blind in one eye, throughout his African expedition. It took almost a year
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North road among bendiest in England
A SCENIC North road has been named in a list of the country's bendiest. The B6270 between Keld and Reeth, in Swaledale, North Yorkshire, came eighth in the top ten compiled by Continental Tyres. Ian Lamming, The Northern Echo's motoring correspondent,
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Justice bid for mineworkers
A RENEWED attempt will be made this week to win justice for the forgotten victims of the coal industry across the North-East. Although the Government is paying compensation to pitmen who suffered ill health after working underground in the region's mines
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Magpies rediscover winning formula
PETULANT players, record-breaking goalscorers and relegation six-pointers - just an average day in the management of Newcastle United. Glenn Roeder's first Saturday in charge was almost perfect. A comfortable win, a clean sheet and Alan Shearer scoring
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Honouring a goalkeeper struck down in his prime
A goalkeeper who died days after suffering terrible injuries during a game has been honoured with a memorial service in his home town. Jimmy Thorpe was repeatedly kicked in the head and body while keeping goal for Sunderland against Chelsea in 1936. The
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Passion yes, but not unbridled
THE WORD passion is widely used throughout football. A good team plays with passion, a manager who is passionate gets things done, the passion of fans can lift players to new heights; everyone, it seems, needs passion. This weekend we saw two very different
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Shepherd ruling no-one out as he searches for 'popular' choice to take command
NEWCASTLE chairman Freddy Shepherd will step up his search for Graeme Souness' successor this morning after admitting he would prefer to have a permanent manager in place "sooner rather than later". And, while the Magpies chief insists he is yet to draw
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Happy Tinkler on the up
IT might be a struggle on the pitch, but Mark Tinkler hasn't felt this good in years. The Hartlepool United enforcer produced a man of the match display in the goalless draw at Rotherham on Saturday. Moved to central defence from his normal midfield berth
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Milburn would be so proud
THE son of Jackie Milburn feels his father will be just proud a 'passionate Geordie' has broken his long-standing goal record for Newcastle United. But, while delighted Alan Shearer has finally gone on to break the 200-goal record, the Milburns at least
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Pensioner collapsed and died after argument with youths
THREE teenagers were being questioned by police last night after a pensioner died following an argument. Cleveland Police said that Harry Cook, 73, felt unwell after an alleged altercation with three youths near his home in Westbank Road, Ormesby, Middlesbrough
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Hodgson is very upbeat
Next up for in-form Darlington is Saturday's game at home to fellow promotion-chasers Bristol Rovers and David Hodgson cannot wait for the weekend to arrive. He says confidence among the players, who have moved from 15th to seventh after losing only once