THE huge Nissan plant, they reckon, is on the site of the former RAF Usworth, which later became Sunderland Airport. The Last Legs Challenge took off that way last Saturday, a wet 14-miler from Durham bus station via the back of Frankland Prison and the front of Finchale Priory.

Notices on the prison walls warn that cars are parked at their owners’ risk – an escape clause, as it were.

The route’s very pleasant, the amount of litter less so. Ebac Northern League president George Courtney, also in attendance, offers the hope that Frankland’s felonious figures might further be swollen by the incarceration of a few dozen litter louts.

What’s again noticeable is the number of posters seeking the return of lost dogs – something which appears a pet project, if not a growth industry. Misty’s missing from Brasside way and attracts a £500 reward; Dexter – astray somewhere in the vicinity of Seaburn sands – even has a Facebook page called Get Dexter Home.

That one’s co-ordinated by a group called Murphy’s Army – “helping reunite lost and stolen pets across the UK.” Its website adds that they can make missing dogs too hot to handle.

The seven walkers don’t quite get lost, just once or twice mislaid. We reach Washington’s ground at Nissan in time for a Brown Ale and a Taylor’s pie, mutually and memorably ambrosial.

Last Legs has now covered 374 miles, visited 31 Northern League grounds and raised around £17,250 for the Sir Bobby Robson fund and for community-based charities. Further donations much welcomed.

FOUR days before the Usworth excursion, Last Legs had taken us on a nine-miler around Thornaby – itself home, lest we forget, to an RAF station either side of the war.

A Spitfire – probably a replica, definitely not an Airfix – stands at a traffic roundabout. Roads are named after Bader, Tedder and Trenchard; there’s a pub called the Roundel.

There’s also a Martinet Road, a little more surprising since “martinet” means a strict disciplinarian and in France was a tawse-like instrument used for chastising children and animals.

A little research reveals that a Miles Martinet was also a target towing aircraft. It may take a bit of explaining.

PLANNED in advance, yet another Last Legs stage yesterday meant that we were unable to attend Barrie Richardson’s funeral at Wear Valley crematorium.

Belligerent batsman, outstanding goalkeeper and colourful character, his death in a road accident was recorded in last week’s column.

Though his cricket was mainly for Mainsforth, a season at Etherley – near Bishop Auckland – is recalled by Vic Connor. On one occasion, Barfy had edged an otherwise elegant drive and was caught behind.

The usual chunterers greeted his return. “If I’d have middled it, you’d have been applauding,” said Barfy, and went happily on his way.

DON Clark spots in the Cricket Paper – “usually pretty reliable” – that the column’s old friend Brian Hunt is to retire as Durham County Cricket Club’s scorer at the end of the 2016 season. Originally known hereabouts as the Bearded Wonder, later beardless but always wondrous, Brian’s been the county’s scorer, statistician and historian for 40 years. None is more meticulous. We shall in turn record his achievements before the summer game is done.

WE’VE been wondering if – as his Wikipedia page claims – former Blackpool and England goalkeeper Tony Waiters had previously played for Bishop Auckland.

Apparently not, but as Durham Amateur Football Trust secretary Dick Longstaff points out, he certainly played AT Bishop Auckland.

It was October 18, 1967, a Kingsway memorial match for Bishops player Colin Barker – eldest of four brothers to have represented the club. A “Northern League/Professionals” side met an All Stars XI which for once was truly stellar.

The team was Waiters, Hardwick, Ashurst, Anderson, Hurley, Hardisty, Finney, Thompson, Milburn, John Barker (capt) and Mitchell. A 2,175 crowd saw the All Stars win 5-4.

The ex-Northern League side included former Stanley United goalkeeper Allan Ball – still the record appearance holder at Queen of the South – and former Coldstream Guards sergeant Terry Melling, the Haverton Hill hard man for whom recent columns have vainly been seeking. There’s hard and there’s seemingly impossible.

….and finally, the former Middlesbrough footballer who appeared in the 1978 World Cup finals (Backtrack, February 4) was Bruce Rioch.

Brian Dixon in Darlington recalls a Guardian report of a match in which Rioch had played. “Fitting that his initials are BR, as both bodies have been known to arrive late from time to time.”

While we still try to fix a chat with Ross County skipper and Billingham lad Andrew Davies, readers are today invited to name the town in which County play – and, for good measure, the towns where St Mirren, Albion Rovers, Queen of the South and St Johnstone have their homes.

Right side of the border, the column returns next week.