Stanhope Town and Wearhead United had the footballing day of their lives on Monday when they played a Crook and District League match at the Stadium of Light. Both grounds have been closed by the foot-and-mouth epidemic and Stanhope chairman Clem O'Donovan wrote to Sunderland supremo Bob Murray asking to play at the Stadium of Light.

Murray agreed - a wonderful gesture. Approaching 1,000 people turned out for the special occasion and a Crook and District League game is unlikely to attract such numbers or publicity again