FOOTBALL clubs are often accused of being out of touch because of the huge amounts of money sloshing around in the higher echelons of the game.

But I was lucky enough to see the other side of football last week when I spent the morning at The Riverside stadium to see how the Middlesbrough Football Club is working at the heart of the local community.

The foundation was born after Boro chairman Steve Gibson saw the impact the appointment of England and Manchester United legend Bryan Robson had when he was appointed as the club's manager. More than 6,000 youngsters turned up at Ayresome Park to see Robson unveiled and, in an instant, Gibson saw the power football had to influence lives.

The foundation was launched to channel education and health improvements through the football club and, on November 11, a dinner will be held to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

The purpose of my visit to the Riverside last week was to see how the foundation is supporting local men who have lost their jobs, principally through the devastating closure of the SSI steel plant at Redcar.

When the steelworks shut down, the foundation's response was to launch a project called Team Talk which uses the Boro brand as a way of engaging redundant men in regular meetings to not only socialise but get practical information on pensions, careers, business start-ups, and mental health. From tomorrow, the Team Talk lads will be embarking on a fitness programme under a foundation coach.

Some clubs are out of touch but it strikes me that Middlesbrough FC is showing how the power of football can be harnessed for the greater good of local communities.

FOOTBALLERS are also often accused of being out of touch, operating in circles a world apart from their fans. George Friend isn't one of them.

It was Friend was represented the players last week when the Team Talk members were given a tour of the Riverside. He spent time making them feel welcome and he does that time and time again, whether the cameras are there or not.

Professional footballers often get a bad press but George Friend is not only a great ambassador for the Boro but for the game in general. Others would do well to watch and learn.

THAT said, I can reveal that George Friend isn't quite perfect...

While showing the Team Talk members inside Boro's home changing room, he was happy to answer all kinds of questions.

I couldn't resist chipping in by asking about how new players - especially foreigners - are brought into the fold.

He confessed that it has been known for players to have to pass an initiation test by singing a Karaoke song. So what was George's choice of song when it was his turn? "You make me wanna shout, by Lulu," he replied.

It's amazing how quickly "street cred" can evaporate.

AMID all the talk of a new Cold War, we should never forget that there are lots of warm-hearted people in the world.

Within a day of news breaking about the birth of my first grandchild, Chloe, a beautiful hand-painted sledge with her name carved into the side had been delivered.

It was the handiwork of a very kind reader called Malcolm Rolling, who worked in Durham University's Psychology Department for 47 years before cancer struck 12 years ago.

To take his mind off his ongoing battle against illness, he makes "Malcolm Sledges". So far, he's delivered 410 sledges and raised more than £7,000 for charity in the process.

Malcolm played for Durham City Rugby Club for 32 years and served as president between 1994 and 1996. Many of his sledges have gone to the children of rugby associates and he's now had a formal request from the club: "Malcolm, please keep on making the sledges'."

"Why?" he asked.

"Because it hasn't snowed since you started making them," came the reply.

Chloe's a bit little to go sledging just yet but I'll be sending a donation to Malcolm's favourite charity, St Cuthbert's Hospice, as a thank you.

THERE were plenty of words of advice from the grandparents in the audience when I spoke to Teesdale U3A at The Witham in Barnard Castle last week.

I'm particularly grateful to the grandad who, despite being unable to stand fully upright, made the effort to hobble over to simply say: "Just mind your back. It's bloody hard being a horse."

I CAN'T let the week pass without saying thank you for Darlington Operatic Society for including me in their brilliant production of Spamalot last week.

Even thought I only uttered one word - "Sorry" - I loved it. As my old friend, North-East magician Ian Wragg, put it: "Once a king, always a king. But once a knight is more than enough for anyone."

FINALLY, on a much less noble note, it's hard to ignore one of the more bizarre news stories of late, involving a certain Gary Mackenzie, of Darlington, who was last week convicted of child cruelty for breaking wind in a child's face.

I'm delighted that justice was done. I''m just not sure about the description of "breaking news" on The Northern Echo's website.