PLAYERS and officials from a North-East football club have pledged to forsake alcohol throughout January.

The Gateshead FC stalwarts have joined Alcohol Concern’s Dry January campaign, aimed at showing people the benefits of cutting back on their drinking.

Those involved are captain Ben Clark, fellow players Micky Cummins and Colin Larkin, chairman Graham Wood, general manager Mike Coulson and media manager Jeff Bowron.

Clark said: “I think the hardest part of not drinking will be the social situations, but I’m looking forward to the challenge and the benefits a month without alcohol will bring.”

Figures from Balance, the North-East Alcohol Office, suggest alcohol misuse costs Gateshead alone £80m a year.

Also signed up to Dry January are Gateshead’s director of public health Carole Wood and council leader Mick Henry.

Officials will be inviting fans to make the pledge at Gateshead’s Skrill Premier home match against Hyde tomorrow (Saturday, January 4).

For more information, visit dryjanuary.org.uk