OLD, old story, the column was again invited to hand over the honours at the Over 40s League’s annual presentation in Sunderland, a pleasure shared with former Premiership referee Ken Redfern, 74 and still whistling.

Ken’s spectacularly spangled size 12s might themselves have won an award. “Dancing shoes,” he said.

It’s a remarkable organisation, burgeoning still. All 72 teams – from Ashington in the north to Redcar and Richmond in the south – are back for more next season and joined by another couple, infant oldies.

Perhaps Newton Aycliffe Cobblers Hall might most obviously have shown their age, just one point from 26 games in the second division of five.

Like everyone else, the Over 40s had also to weather the rainy season. Two cup competitions were abandoned altogether, the final league games played just the previous evening, lest all concerned be turned into pumpkins.

Last Friday, conversely, the seniors were sweltered. Several wore shorts, several calves tattooed. None appeared as egregious as Mr Raheem Sterling’s assault rifle, though the Sunderland FC crest may prove every bit as difficult to delete.

Vince Williams, the admirable league secretary, will shortly be 76. “It helps keep me young,” he said. Same here.

CORBETT WAISTELL – good bloke, though not what you’d call the little Waistell – first appeared in these columns when a teenage goalkeeper, having shipped 17 for Newfield YC, near Bishop Auckland.

Now he’s 65, runs Chilton, only once caught the selectors’ eye last season but remains an enthusiastic referee. Just the day previously he’d renewed his tickets at Durham FA, wondered if there was a senior citizens’ discount.

The official response may best be translated as “No.” The league gave him a long service award, abundantly deserved.

The problem, said Corbett, was the language and the threats. The Sunday morning league in which he operates began 2017-18 with 26 refs and ended it with 12. “They just won’t stand it, why should they?”

Old Adam, Vince Williams confirms that they still remember how to cuss in the Over 40s.

On Sabbath afternoons, Corbett referees women’s football. “Their language is even worse,” he said, and then pondered the weight of the accusation.

“Far worse,” he added.

WERE he to referee in the Over 40s, Corbett would be by no means the oldest officiant. There’s Ken Redfern for one thing, but also 83-year-old Mick Henderson from Ushaw Moor. “So long as I get my sausage and chips after the match I’m happy,” he told the column in 2014. They thought he was coming last Friday, accepted apologies. “He must have missed the bus,” said Vince.

STILL with the old uns, the indefatigable Bill Gibson is organising another reunion for former Gateshead players and supporters – and this time, after problems over wheelchair access at the last one, he promises it’ll be on the level. It’s at Dunston Memorial Hall in Holmeside Avenue from 7pm on Friday June 29.

Truth to tell, it was to have been on July 6 until Bill realised (as he puts it) that that’s the date of England’s World Cup quarter-final. All welcome, anyway.

PERCY ABBOTT, a true gentleman of North-East village cricket, has died. He was 88. Percy had captained both first and second teams at Rockliffe Park, chaired the committee and in 1995 became president.

He was also Darlington and District League president from 1984-99 and a vice-president for seven years before that. He lived in Darlington – “one of the finest gentlemen I ever met in cricket,” says Charlie Walker, the Demon Donkey Dropper of Eryholme.

Five years ago, the club’s £77,000 new pavilion at Hurworth, near Darlington, was named jointly – and in alphabetical order – after Percy and John Gent, who between them had given 130 years service to Rockliffe.

“Percy was a wonderful character and a wonderful friend,” says John, who’s 93.

The pair met at Rockliffe in 1947, after the military had given back the ground. “I think he only played two or three games that first season,” says John of the man remembered for his batting ability if not for his agility in the field.

They’ll also remember his cravat. “He’d learned to tie one properly and insisted on wearing it in the field long after they’d gone out of fashion,” says John. “He was a magnificent servant of the club.”

Percy’s funeral is at 11 30am tomorrow at Hurworth parish church.

JOHN GENT’S playing career was brief, chiefly because after he’d lost a leg as a six-year-old after being hit by a bus outside Middleton St George school. “Solid tyre job, bit bigger than I was,” he recalled at a dinner in 2002 to mark his retirement as club secretary.

The gathering was also told of the occasion, after a particularly notable victory in Teesdale, when he’s slid down the bannister at the Kings Head Hotel in Barnard Castle while shouting “Geronimo.”

Not a leg to stand on? John didn’t deny it.

….and finally, the five clubs which Bob Stokoe managed more than once (Backtrack, May 31) were Blackpool, Bury, Carlisle, Rochdale and (of course) Sunderland.

Alnwick Town, about whom we have been writing on the opposite page, share the name of their ground with at least two other clubs. Readers are invited to identify it.

The column returns next week.