CHAMBERS Dictionary, infallible, defines “searing” as burning or scorching and adds that “sear” may also mean to render callous or insensitive.

While the second bit may be disregarded, the Echo’s cricket notes the other day talked of Bomber Smith’s “searing pace”. He reacts modestly.

“I suppose I’m quite searing for my age,” says Bomb.

Remember him? Famed for his loquacity – not many four-legged cuddies round Bomber’s way – he was once a Backtrack regular.

Bomber had never been the same, we said (callously) in 2008, since discovering that “loquacious” didn’t mean by far the greatest bowler the world has ever seen.

Born Brent, forever Bomber, he’s now 62, still opening the bowling for Thornaby-based Stafford Place, bagged 3-8 against Hutton Rudby – proof that, even now, he does a lot more than talk a good game.

These days he runs in off six paces; once it was 19. “I’m not taking as many wickets as I’d like, but I’m still bowling quite accurately,” he says.

He first played for Norton Juniors and then the senior side, led Durham County League attacks for Shildon, Crook and Kimblesworth, – with whom he won the title – has been with Stafford Place, round the corner from his house, for 16 years. They top the Langbaurgh League and on Sunday tied an exciting Clemmitt Cup final with Crathorne, Bomber and Vaibhav Chandrasekhar adding 38 for the last wicket before he was bowled off his pads for 22 with four balls left.

The sciatica still troubles him – “sometimes its like being stabbed in the side” – the arthritic knees still hold him up. Recovering from an arthroscopy a few years back, he’d ring the column for a chat. “It’s either you or watching cricket on Ceefax,” he said.

In 1992 he announced his retirement, said he wanted to spend more time with the bairns, didn’t play Saturday cricket for six years.

These days he also orchestrates the annual presentation, frequently in verse. On one occasion “Stafford”

rhymed with “”knackered”. It was close, said Bomber. “The older he gets, the greater the affection in which he is held,” the column (less callously) observed, and clearly it is the case.

Every game in which he’s ever played is recorded in ever-expanding files. There are around 9,500 runs – never quite a senior century – five short of 3,500 wickets, a remarkable milestone that might have been passed had last weekend’s weather been kinder.

Like Bomber, it’s a record that speaks for itself: searing is believing, is it not?

YET older but every bit as enthusiastic, John Heighington has just been named the North- East ABA’s coach of the year.

John’s 74 – “74 going on 24,” says Shildon Railway Boxing Club secretary Steve Graham – and in 40 years’ dedication to the club has trained 100 national finalists.

“This next season I think there’ll be some more. There are some cracking kids coming through,” says Steve.

John, who lives in Bishop Auckland, still dodges the long count. “He was retiring 20 years ago and he’s been retiring yearly ever since,” says the secretary. “We’re hoping to have him for quite a while yet.”

FOOTBALL returns, and David Carter reports that the Isle of Man branch of the Middlesbrough supporters’ club will again be foregathering for Saturday’s match with Leeds United – where former Billingham Synthonia man Dave Hockaday is the new head coach – albeit in the bar of the Victoria Tavern in Douglas. Landlord and new Boro surveyor Robert McAteer has even promised steak pies. Sadly, they won’t be Newboulds.

WHO was it advised to get on your bike? Norman Tebbitt, probably. Corneliu Sisianu took him at his word and, as envisaged, had his reward. An eastern European now living on Stanley Hill Top, Corneliu heard that Tow Law Town were staging a charity match for the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Appeal, pedalled along Windy Ridge – “I don’t think he knew where Tow Law was, never mind the ground,” reports Charlie Donaghy – got a game and was named man of the match. The occasion, attended by Lady Elsie Robson – the club president – raised £1,090. “A wonderful result,” says Charlie.

...and finally, the footballer who was an England sub against Chile and subsequently competed against us in the 2006 World Cup (Backtrack, July 31) was Hackney-born former Newcastle United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop – 53 appearances for the Magpies, 26 caps for Trinidad and Tobago. Now 45, he works for the sports broadcaster ESPN.

Easy one today: going into the Old Trafford test, the combative James Anderson needs 13 more wickets to become the most prolific English bowler in test match history. Whom will he overtake?

With an interview with another remarkable bowler, the column returns next week.