Shildon signs shunted into temporary siding

In their place, 30 temporary signs appeared all over the town "apologising for any inconvenience" caused by the orders of Durham County Council.

Since it was all very polite, Shildon folk were perhaps able to read between the lines.

The original signs were erected by club chairman Gordon Hampton, whose Ferryhill-based company is Britain's biggest manufacturer of temporary road signs.

When someone pointed County Hall in their direction, however, it was discovered that they'd been put up without planning permission. The latest twist in the club's up and down fortunes was watched by members of the new junior supporters club, known as the Railway Children.

"The council wrote rather a snotty letter. The club couldn't afford the council bill for taking them down so we did it ourselves," said Gordon.

"We just wanted everyone in the town to know why the signs were disappearing."

The "temporary" signs are allowed to remain for just 48 hours. If planning permission's granted, they can put the others back up.

l The reunion of the last Shildon side to reach the FA Cup first round - Oldham Athletic 5 Shildon 2, November 4, 1961 - has had to be postponed, though almost all the team had been tracked down.

It was due to coincide with this weekend's top of the table Albany Northern League match with Penrith, who have now been drawn at Cockermouth in a County Cup match. Cumberland FA insists that it takes precedence - in Shildon they call it a sign of the times.

ENLIGHTENING as ever, the Northern League magazine Northern Ventures Northern Gains reveals that Consett have been reported by the match referee because floodlights on one of the pylons were out of action.

The date was Saturday, August 25, the time 4pm.

"Not for one moment did we think floodlights would be necessary slap bang in the middle of summer," explained Consett secretary Ian Hamilton.

Though the referee had ordered the lights to be switched on - "Mind, it was black" said League secretary Tony Golightly, also at the match - the League management committee has decided against any further dim view. No action is being taken.

AS if being manager of Tow Law Town weren't headache enough - seven successive missed penalties may be a record at any level of football - our old friend Dr Graeme Forster has another fight on his hands.

The Doc lives in Quebec, six miles west of Durham, where plans are in place to turn yet another village pub into a private house.

The Hamsteels Inn isn't just his local, about three doors away, it's the public house where he was born when his grandmother held the licence.

When they said that young Graeme would go far, they didn't necessarily mean geographically.

"It's an absolute disgrace," says the good doctor. "The village has never been the same since Florrie France closed her fish shop in the 1970s and when the post office shut last year there was nowt left but the pub."

The owner has moved south and though a temporary landlord continues, the council has given villagers 21 days to comment on official proposals for change of use.

A public meeting's planned - "a show of strength," says Graeme, who's also consulting the Campaign for Real Ale, though memory suggests it's a long time since the real thing was available in Quebec.

The Hamsteels would be among an estimated 500 village pubs lost every year. Graeme, who goodness knows has done his bit to relieve the cash flow situation, insists they'll not get away with it.

"After all those missed penalties, I have to have somewhere to drown my sorrows, haven't I?"

RON HAILS wires from Hartlepool with news of the passing of Thelma Ridden, wife of Hartlepool lad Ken Ridden, who retired last year as the FA's director of refereeing.

Ken, lovely chap, had begun his football career with Hartlepool GAYS - you know, the Guild of Young Abstainers - before taking up reffing in the Hartlepool Cadets of Temperance Football League for 3.6d a match.

Thelma supported him throughout. Her funeral is at 10. 30am tomorrow at St John's church, Belmont, Surrey.

NIALL QUINN, 35 earlier this month, remains in huge demand. Seeking to compile a biography, a west country publisher rang Sunderland's PR people for help.

Not only would they not give out Quinny's telephone number, which is entirely understandable, they wouldn't even divulge his agent's, which isn't.

The feeling's familiar to the lads at A Love Supreme, the superb Sunderland fanzine celebrating its 100th edition this week.

Issues 2-82 contained interviews with players; now there's a vow of silence. "Interviews are almost impossible," says editor Martyn McFadden. "The club and management now block every approach we make towards the playing staff.

"Amazingly enough, as soon as the players leave the club, they are only too happy to talk to us."

The intending biographer rang here instead, though we could only direct him towards the Dun Cow in Sedgefield, the pub which Ireland's record scorer occasionally uses. He mightn't find big Niall, we said, but the real ale's terrific.

SPEAKING of hidden persuaders, we fell into conversation last week with the father of a 17-year-old who plays for Darlington's youth team and sometimes in the reserves. The bloke next to him, it transpired, was one of the lad's agents.

One of? "Oh aye," said dad, "he has two."

A HAPPIER occasion than some at Victoria Park of late, a £30,000 cheque will be presented before next Tuesday's match with Hull City to Jon Robert Collingwood, the promising young goalkeeper crippled in a road accident.

Jon Robert, Horden lad, is still just 17, confined to a wheelchair, but sits his driving test soon. "If he flees about in a car the way he flees about in his wheelchair he'll be champion," says Hartlepool chief scout Tommy Miller, who masterminded the trust fund appeal.

The timing coincides with the expected big crowd for Hull's visit and will also allow a programme photograph before the following home game, with Brighton, whose fans alone chipped in £2100.

"It's been a lot of hard graft," says Tommy, "but it's also been a pleasure to help."

APPROPRIATELY for Hallowe'en, the return of The Ghoul. We recalled old Ghoulie and other professional wrestlers of the 1950s three weeks ago after being given a bumper bundle of wrestling magazines and other memorabilia.

Ian Luck from Gainford had bought them from a jumble sale at Darlington fire station in aid of the New York disaster appeal. In turn we invited bids.

Paul Towers in Darlington offered £111-11p, a symbolic and a generous gesture. "My father used to tell me all about The Ghoul at the Baths Hall," he says.

If he'd care to call in, the mat matters are his. The money goes again to the appeal.

THE club which remained inactive for ten Saturdays after beating Bradford City in November 1999 (Backtrack, October 26) was Leeds United.

Readers may today care to identify the last amateur jockey to win the Grand National.

Up and over again on Friday

Published: Tuesday, October 30, 2001