MAN in the middle Stan Evans received an award from Hartlepool Referees’ Association last week for 70 years involvement – his first game on November 26, 1946. “A truly lovely chap,” says RA president Ian Cruickshanks.

Since Stan’s 91, it may be imagined that it hasn’t all been “active” involvement, of course.

His memories have occasionally benefitted these columns – problems with police matches, dashes for the bus, the time that he refereed a Darlington Reserves match and was astonished to find the great Charlie Wayman among the stiffs.

In the 1950s he’d also refereed the last match on the old Chilton CW ground, near Ferryhill, scene of many a memorable football moment down the years.

The crowd was four – two officials from each side – his match fee 12/6d, bus fare from West Hartlepool four shillings. Ever the gentleman, Stan declined the fee, accepted the four bob and was told he could have anything he liked left lying around the dressing rooms.

He took the first aid box, thought that he might gain a bottle of liniment or something, profited instead by precisely four Elastoplasts. “I’ve heard of people being paid in washers,” said Stan, “but never before in sticking plasters.”

A COUPLE of times over Baz Mundy’s year as Bishop Auckland Golf Club captain, we’ve mentioned the charity swear box on the clubhouse bar. On Saturday they’ll be making a £7,703 cheque presentation to the stroke unit at the town’s general hospital, though it should be stressed that only about £650 is from the club’s cussed confraternity. The rest was from less imprecatory efforts.

Baz is understandably elated, equipment funded by the appeal already in use. “I’ve been in the ward a couple of times. The work the staff do is unbelievable,” he says.

THE column a fortnight back was discussing the highs and lows of Tow Law Town – reminding Peter Ellis of a Durham Challenge Cup tie up there about 35 years ago, when he was playing for Stockton.

The day was bleak, bleaker yet when – “battling through snow drifts” – they finally reached Ironworks Road.

Assured by their skipper that the match would be off, the Stockton lads gratefully retired to the clubhouse and were thus disconcerted to learn that the Lawyers had cleared their lines, bought the local Co-op out of Saxa salt and somehow got the go-ahead.

By that time, Peter reckons, they’d had about three pints apiece. “Whether the beer played a part in our victory, or it had something to do with the unique way we de-iced our boots, I really couldn’t say.”

Thereafter they returned to the clubhouse.

WE’VE had a couple of nights in Boston, not that in Massachusetts – the town of the tea party – but in Lincolnshire, where they prefer Bateman’s XB.

So which North-East football club played a “home” game at Boston, 185 miles from base? Come to that, why the Boston crab?

The first was Gateshead, their International Stadium so greatly under water at the start of 2013 that after New Year’s Day they never set foot there again all season.

In March 28, the nearest available ground which met Conference criteria was Boston. They played Newport County, 209 miles distant, drew 0-0 before a crowd of just 227 and, home from home, headed distantly back up the A1.

LAST week’s note on former Newcastle United full back Frank Clark – he whose father knew Lloyd George – recalled that when he was manager at Nottingham Forest we’d to wait three-and-a-half hours for an arranged interview while he signed Gary Bull.

One goal in five years, Bull may not be said to have pulled up any trees – but there’s a Boston connection there, too.

After further travels, he was 39 when he joined Boston Town and hit 56 goals in his first season. With 250 altogether, the man who didn’t sign until he was nearly 40 remains the club’s record scorer.

FESTIVE fun, our friends at The Football Show plan a Christmas special at The Stand Comedy Club in Newcastle on Tuesday, December 20. Organiser and MC Gavin Webster, himself an accomplished stand-up, has recruited Chester-le-Street brothers Gary and Justin Robson – though not yet the third of that famous fraternity – and promises more star signings. They’re greatly enjoyable evenings. The club, real ale on tap, is on High Bridge, between the Theatre Royal and the Bigg Market.

….and finally, several readers knew that it was the latterly labouring James Anderson – last week’s column – who holds the English cricket record for the most Test innings without a duck (54) and the most ducks, 21. His king pair in the second Test against India was just the fourth in England history, and the first since 1906.

Martin Birtle in Billingham today invites readers to name the five different clubs with whom former Sunderland centre half Dave Watson won his 65 England caps. No conferring.

Catching up with an old favourite, the column returns next week.