GEORGE McKellar, whose death we reported on June 2, was cremated the following week. A “celebration of life” followed at St Cuthbert’s parish church in Darlington.

Born on Clydeside, long in Darlington, he remained a passionate Rangers fan. We’d recalled that when first he met Averil, his future wife of 65 years, he’d introduced himself with his Rangers membership card.

“He kept his Rangers card and Averil kept his debit card,” said the Rev Dr John Elliston, the minister.

George had kept goal for Third Lanark, became a greatly respected referee, moved south in 1962 as a housing officer for Aycliffe Development Corporation and was a long-serving president of Bishop Auckland Referees’ Society.

“He was my best friend, a wonderful man,” said Terry Farley, the society’s secretary for 54 years (and counting.)

George was also a family man, had holidayed every year since 1968 at the Cober Hill Hotel at Cloughton, near Scarborough, where up to 50 of them might annually gather. It’s where his ashes will be scattered.

Shortly before his death, aged 86, he’d given some eulogy notes to Dr Elliston. “Visitors to my last resting place are welcome,” they said. “No appointment necessary.”

GEORGE’S obit recalled the story of the player in a Darlington and District League game who’d called the referee a Volkswagen – a term deemed inoffensive. “If he’d called me a Skoda I’d have sent him off,” the ref had said. Talk at the wake was of a Sunday league player in Bishop Auckland who, cautioned in an end of season game, had given his name as Lucozade because that was the sponsors’ identity on his shirt. “Bottle,” he replied, when in turn asked his first name. Doubtless energetically, Durham FA is investigating.

AMONG those at the service was former Football League referee George Tyson, Sunderland lad, unwitting suspect of one of football’s greatest photographs.

It was 1985, Goodison Park. “Everton v Coventry, I think,” George surmised, though the incident left a more indelible mark.

Accidentally, no doubt, a player had hoofed the ball from about three feet into what might most politely (if not wholly accurately) be called the referee’s midriff.

The picture shows the trainer, as probably they were still called, trying to support the poor chap while the linesman (as they were definitely still called) tries and spectacularly fails not to see the funny side.

George, now 77, still grimaces at the memory. “I’ve just about recovered,” he said.

LONG on Teesside but proudly Welsh, Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson was alone among 14 pundits in The Times – the “experts” also included John McEnroe – to forecast a Red Dragons win over England in the European Championships. Britain’s most decorated Paralympian explained her optimism. “My dad went to the same school as Gareth Bale,” she said.

THE exhibition celebrating my 20 years as Northern League chairman continues at the National Railway Museum in Shildon, but only until half past one this afternoon, so be sharp.

Narcissistically, I looked in again on Monday, the enterprise running alongside a backdrop soundtrack of the adventures of the Percy Main snow plough – which sounds like something from Thomas the Tank Engine – and the visitors’ book full of kind comments about the Durham Amateur Football Trust’s admirable efforts.

The entry from Sir Alex Ferguson may be supposed a forgery, however, while that from the chap bewailing that the museum café had closed by 4pm might explain why the end of the visitors’ book Bic – steadfastly secured to it by a length of string – had been so massively masticated.

Elsewhere in the museum, they’re eagerly preparing for the arrival of the Flying Scotsman, in steam at Shildon from July 23-31. Who knows, 60103 could prove even more high-powered than the bloke who writes the Backtrack column.

At any rate, I added a final comment to the visitors’ book. “You did me proud,” it says.

ALL these years, and the number of occasions on which the column has dipped a toe into fishing waters may probably be counted on one hand.

Strolling between Stapleton and Cleasby the other day, we were thus delighted to come across a banner proclaiming Darlington Anglers’ Club’s open day – on the lake there – on Saturday, July 9.

The two villages are immediately south of the Tees, just out of Darlington. The open day is from 10am-3pm, families welcome, free admission and open to all. Tuition’s available, and a barbecue from 12.30pm.

The phrase about sprat and mackerel may be inappropriate to such waters, but there’ll be much more in the column on July 13.

…and finally, the last column sought the identity of the four English racecourses without any of the letters r-a-c-e in their name. They were Ludlow, Goodwood, Huntingdon and Plumpton, with a bonus mark for Sligo, in Ireland. Paul Symons was first with the answer.

Fred Alderton in Peterlee today invites readers to name the Premiership club which will play at the 365 Bet Stadium in 2016-17.

Pretty much odds on, an answer next week.