Television off button is pressed on the 'hot bed of football'

11:07am Tuesday 13th May 2008

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ALMOST 50 years after Tyne Tees Television began transmission, the last-ever regional football programme will be broadcast this evening.

It's goodnight Soccer Night - and everything else, too.

"It's bloody tragic, this is supposed to be the Hotbed of Soccer," says Soccer Night producer Ken Pollard.

Tonight's programme may also mark the final screen appearance of Arsenal fan and former Tyne Tees head of sport Roger Tames, a familiar North- East face since arriving in 1976 as a wet-eared reporter from the Dagenham Post.

"I'd once covered Middlesbrough v West Ham but never even been to Sunderland or Newcastle's grounds," says Rog.

Duck to water? "I've seen some of the early stuff. It may have been more like a stone to water," he insists.

The programme's demise has been imposed by Ofcom, the broadcast regulator. From 2009, regional ITV companies will be allowed just one 30 minute nonnews "opt-out" a week - also threatening hugely popular programmes like Dales Diary, Grundy's Wonders and anything with Andy Kluz.

Tyne Tees football coverage was begun by former national newspaper journalist George Taylor - now almost 80 but still player liaison officer at Newcastle United - with a fondly remembered programme called Shoot.

Its successors have included Sports Time, The Back Page and Café Sport.

Despite a national outcry, ITV regions were ordered a few years back to chop regional programming from three to one-and-a-half hours weekly.

Now it's being cut to the point of bleeding to death.

"Viewers' reaction seems simply to be astonishment. We check the ratings and we are consistently among the top performing regional sports programmes, often the best,"

says Ken Pollard, who works for independent producer Film Nova and (as he is anxious to recall) once wrote a ten-pin bowling column for the Echo.

Soccer Night's regulars have recently been former North- East stars Kevin Ball, John Beresford and Colin Cooper.

"They're all really good mates, it's a belting night followed by a beer in the pub," says Ken.

Roger agrees. "Soccer Night is as enjoyable as anything I've ever done. The decision hasn't been made locally but it's a bit of a shame because our ratings were encouraging - especially as we could never show film of the Big Three's games because we hadn't the contract."

BBC Look North sports presenter Jeff Brown, himself formerly at Tyne Tees, is happy to acknowledge his old boss's impact.

"Despite the fact that he's ten years older than me and has no hair, I still get the occasional shout of Hoy, Rog' when spotted at one of the region's grounds. It's the only name they know."

DISTURBING news from the Church Times: the Durham diocesan clergy cricket team, its achievements traditionally humble, appears to have given up the ghost.

Despite the column's almost religiously fervid support, the God squad won't be contesting the Church Times Cup this season.

"We've run out of players and there just aren't the same numbers of clergy to choose from," says the Rev Richard Wallace, vicar of Cockerton, Darlington, who once hit 104 against the diocese of Ripon.

Richard also admits that age is catching up with them. "I kept wicket last year and almost had to be carried off the field. I hope we may be back in the future."

THE note a couple of weeks back on the passing of legendary Somerset wicket-keeper Harold Stephenson - born in Haverton Hill, played both cricket and football for Billingham Synthonia - reminded Eric Wharton in Sunderland of a different Stivvie altogether. The North-East has lots.

Eric was a 14-year-old in 1945- 46, played football for Alderman Wraith Grammar School in Spennymoor and was periodically given the runaround by Roy Stephenson of Wolsingham Grammar.

"He was one of two exceptional talents, the other Ken Whitfield from Bishop Auckland," says Eric.

The other Stivvie, Crook lad, played cricket with his father for Peases West and had been with four other Football league clubs before joining Bobby Robson's Ipswich Town when 28.

Bobby called him the "final piece in the jigsaw" as Ipswich won second and first divisions in successive seasons. Portman Road simply knew him as Rocky. He died, aged 67, eight years ago.

Ken Whitfield was signed by Wolves from Shildon Colliery, also played for Manchester City and QPR but may best be remembered at Brighton, where he made 175 League appearances between 1954-58.

Though on a Stivvie wicket, Alderman Wraith still enjoyed their Saturday morning trips to Wolsingham. "Afterwards we were treated to a delicious mince and potato dinner with apple pie and custard to follow," says Eric. "It was worth going to get beat."

ON FRIDAY night to Trimdon United Juniors; ever-excellent annual dinner, compered by TFM radio presenter Gary Philippson and with John Burton, his old sports master at Sedgefield, on the top table.

Gary recalled the school trip, involving a sea crossing, on which he'd climbed a mast and was essaying a somewhat unconventional way of attracting the attention of other shipping.

John Burton, until recently the Prime Minister's constituency agent, remembered it, too.

"I was told there'd been a bit of horseplay but expected to find someone fooling round on deck, not half way up the mast showing his backside."

Gary pleads mitigation. "I was just an innocent lad from Trimdon, never been anywhere.

I'd never even seen a pineapple until I was 20."

THE Daily Telegraph business pages report that former Northern Rock chief executive Adam Applegarth is back at the crease for Sunderland II, having last season failed very much to trouble the scorers - if not necessarily the shareholders.

On Saturday, steady if not quite Rock-like, he hit 34.

JUST in time for the Manchester City game, the Boro fanzine Fly Me to the Moon produced the results of its annual fans' survey - in which 55 per cent thought the season's best home performance was the 2-1 win over Arsenal. There may have been some wholesale revision.

Downing was player of the season, Wheater - with 95 per cent - young player of the season and Arca, with 41 per cent, the most disappointing player.

Tuncay was thought to have the best haircut, Arca the worst. Jeremie Aliadiere was voted best looking player and poor Wheater the opposite - but as FMTTM observes, it's personality that counts.

THOUGH June's officially "close season" in English football, they do things differently up north. That's why former Darlington and Hartlepool assistant manager Eddie Kyle is so much looking forward to the Scottish Junior Cup final - Cumnock v Bathgate Thistle, Kilmarnock, June 1.

Scottish "junior" football, as we noted a couple of months back, is anything but child's play. That's why Eddie, who scored both goals when Cumnock beat neighbours and fierce rivals Auchinleck Talbot in the 1976 quarter-final, thought it prudent to decline a VIP invitation when the sides met at the same stage in March.

Cumnock love him, of course.

There's still someone on the website who calls herself "Eddie Kyle's love child." He hasn't told the missus.

Eddie's now a travel agent in Yarm, Teesside. A trip to Kilmarnock appeals. "I wouldn't miss it," he says.