EVENWOOD Cricket Club’s annual presentation moves, frequently, with the times. First it was held at the village sports and social club: it closed and they shifted 200 yards to the White Swan.

When the Swan itself turned turtle they jogged off down the hill to the Trotters which, sadly, proved another open and shut case.

Rabbits in a cornfield, they held this autumn’s awards evening six miles away at Bishop Auckland Rugby Club. What hasn’t changed is that the column gets to present the awards and that the Teesdale family – Bulldog Billy and Co – win rather a lot of them.

Morgan Teesdale, the Bulldog’s 10-year-old grandson, claimed the under-13s bowling; Thomas, who’s 14, won under-15s batting and made his mark in the first team.

“Little” Billy, their father, won the trophies for both best batting and best bowling in the first team and another for twice scoring centuries against Langley Park. Though no longer playing, Big Bad Billy deservedly took the Sportsman of the Year award for all that he does for village cricket.

These days the Bulldog’s muzzled. As always, it was a pleasure to be there.

MUCH consternation among the hard nuts at Darlington RA, where last Sunday’s inaugural conkers championship – that most English of autumnal exercises – was won by an Australian. Jonathan Carson, last season’s professional with Hartlepool Cricket Club, is clearly an all-rounder.

The conqueror’s conker hangs, mocking, behind the bar; the defeated denizens threaten a nationality check. “He can’t be a real Aussie,” it’s reported. “The prize was two bottles of beer and he swapped it for two bottles of Coke.”

THOUGH they face losing their base at Timothy Hackworth’s cottage in Shildon – the cost of long-term repairs is said to be nearing £2m – the admirable lads at the Durham Amateur Football Trust continue to find shelter beneath the National Railway Museum’s generous roof.

It’s there that they plan a New Year “Grass routes” exhibition, following the success of an Auckland and District League exhibition a few years back.

Dick Longstaff, the secretary, would love to hear from anyone with cuttings, photographs or mementoes from the once-numerous local leagues in the county. He’s on 01388 450775, email dick.longstaff58@outlook.com

RECALLING two weeks ago the famous footballers of the 1950s’ Chix Bubble Gum album, we supposed that only two of the 48 survived – and thus prematurely killed off Roy Bentley.

Eric Wilkinson, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, points out that Bentley, 92, is alive and well and still watching Chelsea – and since Emma, Eric’s daughter, is the club’s head of communications, there’s no doubt that he’d know.

The point’s reinforced by Brian Dixon, a Chelsea season ticket holder despite living in Darlington, who quotes from Chelsea: the Complete Record – “a tireless and innovative centre forward and skipper.”

Bentley had joined Newcastle United in 1946 – part of a forward line that included Jackie Milburn, Len Shackleton and Charlie Wayman – scored 29 goals in 48 Football League appearances but then joined Chelsea for £12,500.

At Stamford Bridge he hit 128 in 324 games and won 12 England caps before spells with Fulham and QPR.

Eric himself was one of Britain’s top swimming officials, chief coach at the hugely successful Darlington Swimming Club and is a former ASA president. Though he no longer enjoys his daily dip in the Tees, he’s still striding the lanes – but Eric’s but a bairn of 87.

STILL giving, the 70th birthday was further marked by a first-ever trip to the magnificent Emirates Stadium – Arsenal’s Champions League mauling last Wednesday of Bulgarian champs Ludogorets preceded by a pub tour of Kentish Town.

One of them had a festive menu booklet to which former Arsenal and England midfielder Ray Parlour – otherwise the Romford Pele – had contributed a page headed “My favourite Christmas memory.”

It was Christmas Eve, 1990s. Not in the Boxing Day squad, Parlour and team-mate Tony Adams had headed after training for the pub. After a lengthy session, Parlour realised that a) he hadn’t bought his old mum a present and b) the shops were shut.

That’s when it seemed a good idea for the pair of them to remove a large pot plant from the pub to his car boot – though the Metropolitan Police, duly summoned, failed to join the merriment.

The England pair were told to report to the nick a few days after Christmas, greeted by pollisses whistling Bill and Ben the Flowerpot Men, and escaped with a festive flea in the ear.

He still doesn’t say what he got his mum for Christmas.

….and finally, the column two weeks ago sought the identity of the three England cricket captains who’d had the same surname as a British prime minister.

They were Peter May (of course), Freddie Brown and – the hard one – Alan Lamb. William Lamb, otherwise Lord Melbourne, was twice prime minister in the 1830s, though not known for his love of cricket. John Maughan in Wolsingham was first with the answer.

Readers are today invited to name the only Manchester United manager to have won an FA Cup winner’s medal with Manchester City.

Ever neighbourly, the column returns next week.