REMEMBER the razzamatazz a few years back when appropriately named American biscuit billionaire Bob Rich sought to see how the cookie crumbled with Bedlington Terriers? There’s a small world sequel.

Rich, titular lord of the manor, sent Eric Edelstein on a three-month attachment to see how best they could get their teeth into the Terriers.

Though it didn’t quite work out, Eric became smitten by soccer, especially at Newcastle United. Back in the USA, he’s helped start Reno 1868, whose inaugural season in the American second division kicks off shortly.

Eric got to checking the squad list, or roster as they call it over there: two Jamaicans, an El Salvador international, a Frenchman, a Canadian, a Swiss, one or two from the States and Jordan Roberts, 24, whose birthplace is given as Bishop Auckland.

“I distinctly remember watching Terriers at their ground in 2011,” says Eric. “I just hope he doesn’t support Sunderland.”

An internet search suggests Jordan has a pedigree. His dad’s Alan Roberts, now 52, whose clubs included Middlesbrough, Darlington and Sheffield United before a knee injury ended his career, aged just 25, when with Lincoln City.

At Boro, the right winger scored twice in 38 games under Malcolm Allison, broke his foot towards the end of 1983-84 – “a body blow” he said, as clearly it was – and subsequently hit 19 in 119 games for the Quakers.

It ended unhappily, the player allegedly walking out on Feethams in the summer of 1988. Darlington manager Dave Booth claimed that they’d been treated “shabbily”; the player demurred – “a difference of opinion,” he says. The Blades paid £15,000 for his registration.

Alan, raised in Newton Aycliffe and then living in Helmington Row, near Crook, is now back in the North-East and working in financial services. He still plays five-a-side – alongside Jordan, when he’s home – and enjoys a game of tennis.

Jordan spent five years with Newcastle United’s academy before a four-year degree course in the USA. He previously played for St Louis.

So who’s the better player? “He tells me he is, we have debates about it” says dad. “I tell him he’s taller and stronger, but I was faster and more skilful.

“Reno’s a sort of small city Las Vegas, a very big gambling place. I just hope he’s onto a winner.”

DURHAM Amateur Football Trust secretary Dick Longstaff reports striking success for DAFT’s “Grass routes” exhibition at Locomotion in Shildon – visitor numbers at the time of the exhibition up to more than 7,000. “Their future depends largely on footfall,” says Dick, though it could be a typo and he meant football. Sadly, there are no reports from Darlington library of similar queues for the Mike Amos exhibition – “but,” says Dick, “they’re probably used to crowds.”

THE Bishop of Durham regrets, but the chances of the diocesan cricket team – long a Backtrack favourite – making a return to the Church Times Cup appear to be slim.

“It’s the first diocese I’ve worked in where I haven’t played cricket. I asked about it when I came,” says the Rt Rev Paul Butler, nearly three years in post.

“The reality is that you need a squad of at least 20 to ensure that 11 are available. Vicars are very busy people.”

A possibility could be fielding a joint side with the neighbouring Diocese of Newcastle, he adds. “I’d love to have another game.”

GEOFF Hill, who indelibly taught us English at Bishop Auckland Grammar School, has died, aged 82. More of him in next Tuesday’s column but chance to record that his funeral’s at Wear Valley crematorium at noon today and that he was also a very canny cricketer – Shildon Town, memory suggests.

He opened the batting, bowled slow/medium, had a deceptive ultra-slow ball which got folk out. “He considered fast bowling to be cheating,” says David, his son.

“When the West Indies had the best four fast bowlers in the world in the 1980s, he thought it was unsporting to play then all. You have to put a rubbish bowler on to give the batsmen a chance.”

VICTORIOUS in the previous round of the FA Vase against Sunderland RCA, Newport Pagnell – near Milton Keynes, as the Railroad to Wembley explained in some detail – were at South Shields last Saturday. Tony Jones reports great goals, a great atmosphere and standing next to a slightly disoriented Mariner. “He spent most of the match berating the opposition for being Welsh, various insults about leeks and sheep bothering. We didn’t have the heart to tell him.”

….AND finally, last week’s column sought the identity of the five clubs with more than 1,000 Northern League wins apiece. When the stats were last updated at Christmas, they were Bishop Auckland (1,438), Tow Law (1,277), Shildon (1,198), Billingham Synthionia (1,118) and West Auckland with 1,008. Willington’s win over Ryton and Crawcrook Albion on Saturday meant that they joined the exclusive order.

On Tuesday there was a dinner for all 300-odd surviving England cricketers. Readers are today invited to name the three oldest former captains still with us.

Toss of a coin, but we hope to return next week.