Hawley unlikely

Duncombe Park, Helmsley-based, have moved to pastures new and, perhaps, a little less ovine. “They want to play in a league where grounds don’t have a significant slope and there isn’t a constant necessity to try to avoid sheep droppings amongst the long grass,” concedes indomitable league secretary Charles Allenby.

Up hill and down, Spout House and High Farndale will again be joined by Gillamoor and Slingsby.

“They recognise the league’s historical significance and importance to their local communities,” says Charles.

The quartet will play each other three times, compete in a couple of cups and, at season’s end, contest the top four play-offs. Mr Allenby has yet to explain how, and why, that one works.

TIME was when no cricketer was more familiar hereabouts than Ian “Boss Hogg” Hawley, heavy duty wicket keeper for Crook, among others. Bumping into the old boy the other day proves less bruising than might formerly have been supposed – he’s down from 26st 13lb to a mere 19st 10lb. “Just good living,” Boss explains. Though his cricket days may be behind him, he hopes to make a cameo appearance in a memorial football match at Crook this Saturday for familiar local player Tucker Bailes. “You won’t believe my turn of speed,” he says.

HRONICLING a Cockerton Cricket Club reunion, last week’s column recalled that, back in the days of make-do-andmendicant, the Darlington-based team had used a pair of hand-medown pads bequeathed by Kent and England all-rounder Frank Woolley.

None has suggested the Darlington connection, though Martin Birtle recalls that Woolley played under 14 different captains in a 28-year England career – “a record I can’t see being beaten” – and in his last test series, in 1934, was pressed into service as a wicket keeper.

Some cricketer, in four of the 13 seasons in which he surpassed 2,000 runs he also claimed 100 wickets.

Shortly before he died, aged 90, Woolley published a limited edition memoire called Early Memories, each of which he signed personally.

Woolley backed, Martin still treasures No 777.

FREQUENTLY crumbling, Darlington Hole in the Wall FC – of whom the column remains president – have beaten Middleton Rangers 10-0, finally lifting them from the rocky bottom of the Crook and District League second division.

‘ETERNAL’: Mick Henderson

Long-serving club secretary Alan Smith is so excited he types out the score in words – “like they used to do on the Grandstand teleprinter,” says Alan.

No matter that Rangers started with only nine men, or were 4-0 down when a tenth turned up, it was the boys’ biggest win since the gallantly remembered days of Barton Athletic, past whom they put 25 in two games.

The other matter of note is that the match referee – subject of what Alan terms “some disingenuous remarks” – was the eternal Mick Henderson, from Durham.

Still vigorously whetting his whistle, Mick’s 79, 80 in November. The date is very firmly in the diary.

INSIDE story, the column was debating several months ago which football team Norman Stanley Fletcher supported.

Not least because Fletch was a Muswell Hill lad, we concluded –- “the logical answer,” agrees Mike Snowdon, in Newcastle – that he was a Spurs fan.

Last week, however, Mike – “the one in the anorak” – again watched the film version of Porridge. Fiftyfive minutes in, Genial Harry Grout – Slade’s tobacco baron – is recruiting a reluctant Fletcher to coach the prison football team against a team of celebrities from the Smoke.

“I’ve grown disenchanted with the game,” insists Fletch. “Twenty years of supporting Orient does that for a man.”

Mike rests his case, and hangs up his anorak, too.

ENCHANTED as ever, Peter Taylor is organising a reunion next Thursday – April 24, 2.30pm kick off – of former players from the Auckland and District League sides Bishop Middleham, Steetley, Winterton Hospital and Black and Decker.

It’s at Ferryhill Workmen’s Club. “A drink and loads of chat,” Peter promises. All welcome.

...and finally, last week’s column sought the location of the most northerly, southerly, easterly and westernmost Premiership or Football League teams in England.

They’re Newcastle United, Norwich and, in the other two cases, Plymouth. Paul Dobson in Bishop Auckland was first with the answer.

Readers are today invited to recall, perhaps joyfully, the identity of the 100-1 outsider which won the 2009 Grand National.

Easter marks the Northern League ground Hoppers weekend, 11 games in four days and a curtain raiser at Brandon v Willington tonight. Details at northernleague.org – and a report, if we last the course, next week.