THOUGH he was six times an England man – and made 10 international appearances for Zambia – Jackie Sewell’s passing the other day warranted about three lines in one or two of the papers and nothing at all in most.

That he was remembered hereabouts is probably because he was No 30, of 48, in the Chix bubble gum football card album.

We coveted Chix lit at Timothy Hackworth Juniors in the 1950s, forever blowing bubbles outside Bushby’s sweet shop, conveniently over the road.

No 2 was Jackie Milburn (“a former Powderhall sprinter” said the album caption), No 8 the great Shack (“on his day the finest inside forward in the country”) and No 12 George Hardwick, a lovely man whom in later life I grew to know quite well.

Bert Williams, Billy Wright, Tommy Lawton, Tom Finney and Ray Barlow stuck around similarly. Tom Garrett, Blackpool and England, was a South Shields lad who’d signed from Horden CW; Tom Cummings, No 6, was a Hetton-le-Hole miner who’d had a season with Stanley United before a long career at Burnley, but who still went to the “wrong” Stanley when United held a reunion.

Born near Whitehaven, Jackie Sewell continued down the pit after signing for Notts County and in 1951 became England’s record signing when joining Sheffield Wednesday for £34,500. Of the fabled 48, was he the last man standing?

For a while it seemed so but for 22 and 37, happily, their numbers are not yet up.

No 22 was Bert Mozley, Derby County and England, now 93 and said 60-odd years ago to be one of the few men to play in contact lenses. The other was Bert Quixall, No 37, deemed the Golden Boy alongside No 25, Wilf Mannion of the Boro. Bert’s but a bairn of 83.

All the rest – Gil Merrick, Roy Bentley, Frank Brennan of Newcastle and North Shields – are gone. Their memory sticks in the Chix bubble gum album.

THE birthday bash went very well – 10 real ales, a magnificent spread and great company at Darlington Snooker Club. Among many it was a real pleasure to see was former Hartlepool United chairman Garry Gibson, 10 weeks after his quintuple heart bypass and looking in good fettle.

“They didn’t say I couldn’t enjoy a pint of lager,” he said and, thus reassured, enjoyed a second.

Former Bishop Auckland chairman Terry Jackson appeared in a state of great excitement, less to do with the septuagenarian frolics than with Bishops’ FA Cup tie at Stockport County on Saturday. They’ve even offered a seat on the bus.

The youngsters – that is to say my 30-odd-year-old boys – ended the night necking something called skittle bombs and dizzy bombs. Sometimes it’s quite nice to be old.

HEADING homeward for the big bash, the younger bairn discovered the evening train from Kings Cross to be overflowing as always – ram-packed, as Mr Jeremy Corbyn supposed.

The 18.30, in truth, was so full that former England fast bowler Steve Harmison, now a TalkSport pundit and Ashington FC manager, spent the journey as far as York sitting on the floor in the vestibule.

One difference between Harmi and the ever-populist JC, however. Harmi sat on the floor in first class.

UNCROWDED, the train to Marske on Tuesday evening was entertained by Graham Palmer, the bard guard (though these days they call them conductors).

Approaching Redcar, 7pm and quite dark, he urges passengers to buy a lemon top. “If you do, please get one for me/I’ll be coming back on the 7.43.”

Marske are playing Consett, a particular pleasure to encounter John Dawson, King of the Ground Hoppers. Fears of his demise are, happily, unfounded.

They began a couple of Wednesdays back when neighbours in Hartlepool reported that they hadn’t seen him for a while. Others thought he might have gone to Shildon’s match, so a PA announcement was made at the ground asking that he make himself known.

When he didn’t, the polliss kicked his front door in. The retired postman, who’d been to Billingham Synners, was strolling back up the road as the council chap was effecting a temporary repair.

“It’s good to know that people care,” says John – but the council still haven’t given him a new door.

….and finally, the five Durham cricketers chosen to make their England debut since we won the Ashes in 2005 (Backtrack, October 6) are Liam Plunkett, Graham Onions, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood and Steve Borthwick. The seven from Yorkshire are Tim Bresnan, Ajmal Shahzad, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Gary Ballance, Adam Lyth and Adil Rashid.

Readers are today invited to name the three England cricket captains who’ve shared their surname with a British prime minister.

In order further to recover from the 70th celebrations, the column returns in a fortnight.