A FEW weeks ago, this column was dedicated to Laura, Chloe and Megan Summers, 18-year-old identical triplets, who were preparing to play together in a cup final football team.

Well, I’m delighted to report that the team, representing Darlington Spraire Lasses, went on to be victorious in the Durham FA Women’s Development League Cup Final, beating Gateshead Rutherford 4-0.

Beaming coach Ronnie Joyeux said: “It was a tight first half and we went in just 1-0 up, but it was a cracking performance in the second half and we ran out well-deserved winners.”

Six of the team, including the Darlington triplets, are now going off to different universities, so the team is looking for new recruits.

“It was the perfect way to finish – a real fairytale,” said Laura, who’s grown up playing in the team since she was eight.

In those far-off younger days, their coach at the time, the evergreen Dave Scott, pulled off a man-management masterstroke. He told the girls that he’d buy them all ice creams if they won a big match at Redcar.

Nine years on, and having heard the tale of Dave’s bribery, I promised the girls another round of ice creams if they won the cup.

A promise is a promise and I can confirm that a dozen Fab lollies and choc ices were duly delivered to last week’s training session at Abbey Road Playing Fields.

Congratulations, girls...on a Fab result.

STILL on the subject of the beautiful game, a big thank you to the train manager on the 10.28am train from Darlington to London the other day for making me and my fellow passengers laugh out loud.

Just as we were approaching King’s Cross, he brightened our day by launching into the most magnificent, dead-pan rant in a tell-tale Wearside accent...

“Good afternoon, this is your train manager speaking. We will shortly be arriving bang on time at King’s Cross Station and, in approximately a minute or so, we’ll pass the Emirates Stadium, home of the perennial under-achievers of the Premier League. Yes, Arsene Wenger is leaving Arsenal after 22 years. In that time, he’s won three Premier League titles, seven FA Cups, seven Community Shields, and one Champions’ League final. Yes, isn’t that terrible? No wonder the Arsenal fans haven’t been happy. On the other hand, I suppose they could have been like me, watching their club relegated for the second successive season and being thoroughly miserable, week in week out. Maybe they should be careful what they wish for at Arsenal. Anyway, that’s just about all from me, we’re now arriving at King’s Cross so have a good day and thank you for travelling with Virgin Trains.”

I’ve since discovered that the train manager in question is lifelong Sunderland fan Graeme Wright, 42, pictured right, and it seems that he makes a habit of entertaining passengers with his monologues.

“If people are laughing, it means they’re on your side and that’s half the battle of being a train manager,” he told me.

Before we all piled off his train, Graeme sent us on our way with a bit of extra information about the London Underground, and another example of his humour.

“I took my dog on the Underground the other day to teach it to play the trumpet,” he explained. “It went from Barking to Tooting in an hour.”

You’ll do for me, Graeme.

A VERY happy 70th birthday to The Inner Wheel Club of Darlington.

It was a pleasure to speak at their President’s Dinner and to discover that under the splendid leadership of the latest president, Jenny Cowie, more than £3,000 had been raised for charity this year.

Since the dinner, a further £1,000 has been raised for Guide Dogs for the Blind through a 70-mile static bike ride by the members.

Long may the wheels keep on turning.

SELECT members of Darlington Rotary Club were also in attendance at the dinner, and past president Derek Alderson collared me about the golf day at Blackwell Grange Golf Club on July 12.

A team of four costs £160, including coffee on arrival, round of golf, mid-round spike bar, and two-course meal. In the past 22 years, the golf day has raised the magnificent sum of £85,000 for local charities and the main beneficiary this time will be Darlington Samaritans. Anyone interested in taking part should contact Derek at aldybutch@gmail.com

FINALLY a special thanks to Dan Hanson, one of the waiters at Bannatyne Hotel, for coming to my rescue before I spoke at the Inner Wheel event.

It was only when I turned up that I realised it was a posh black tie affair, and there was me, in an open-necked shirt.

Young Dan quickly whipped off his own black tie, and spared my blushes.

Customer service at its best.