A SMALL village pub was the unlikely setting for the launch of a new book about footballing heroes last week.

One Dead Ref and a Box of Kippers is sprinkled with anecdotes, opinions and memories of dozens of footballers who qualified to appear in Steven Chaytor's book.

There were just two criteria for inclusion. All must have been born in the borough of Sedgefield and all must have played in at least one Football League or Premiership match between the end of World War Two and the Millennium.

Incredibly Mr Chaytor found 72 men who fitted the bill. They range from well-known names like Eric Gates, Stan Cummins and Fred Barber to players like Spennymoor-born Dennis Walker who played just one game for Luton Town in 1960.

Speaking at the book's launch at The Nag's Head Inn, Sedgefield, Mr Chaytor said he treated all of the entries with equal respect.

He said: "The very famous players always get written about, but you don't always hear about the lesser-known players who flirted with the Football League, those who didn't quite make it through injury or just plain bad luck.

"I thought it would be nice to trace those people from my locality who did get the honour of crossing the touchline and playing in the Football League.

"Even someone who only played 30 minutes in the Football League is something I and many of my friends would give our right arms to do because it's a great achievement."

Mr Chaytor's father, Ken, played for Oldham Athletic in the Fifties and he is included.

He first thought about writing the book seven years ago, but began his research in earnest two years ago when he started the task of tracking down each of the players in the list.

Most ex-players were happy to talk to Mr Chaytor and some were present at the book's launch.

Mr Chaytor said: "We've got people here who played just one game and people who played 500 games and had long careers, but they've all got that one thing in common. There have been 72 players playing for 75 different teams in 50-odd years and they're a very select bunch of people."

The title of the book come from just two of the anecdotes which appear throughout the book, alongside the player profiles.

Mr Chaytor said: "I'd been considering what to call it and came up with things like 'Footballers from Sedgefield' or 'In a League of their Own', but they all sounded like titles I'd heard before or just plain boring.

"So I thought of some of the anecdotes in the book and I just thought this was a canny title."

Priced £9.99, the book is available in selected branches of WH Smith, Ottakar's in Darlington and some libraries. It is also available from the author, who can be called on (01740) 621737.