Geordie Boy Steve Stone threatened to put an early end to Bobby Robson's dream of a trip to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on May 12. The lifelong Magpie fan stunned 35,000-plus fellow Tynesiders - including around a dozen of his own family - into silence
CAMPAIGNERS representing the victims of disgraced surgeon Richard Neale have welcomed a new Government agency to investigate dangerous doctors. The National Clinical Assessment Authority (NCAA), to be set up in the wake of cases like Neale and that of
ROB Andrew has his best chance yet of getting his hands on the Tetley's Bitter Cup when Newcastle face Harlequins in the final at Twickenham on February 24. Quins, next to bottom of the Premiership, were shock 22-18 winners against Leicester in Saturday's
Squandering the moral high ground THE Labour Government should be praised for introducing the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act, which obliges political parties to publish the names of people who give them money. As the decline of the previous
WHAT is the origin of the American Stars and Stripes flag? Is it true that it originated in the North-East? I would also like to know if it once featured a rattlesnake? - David Wilson, Norton. IF THE American flag is derived from George Washington's coat
A CANCER patient who is fighting for her life says she has been denied access to a promising new drug because the NHS will not pay for her treatment. Eileen Quigley, 68, from Thirsk, North Yorkshire, claims that she was told that the recently-licensed
SLOPPY Sunderland were lucky to get a second FA Cup chance after surviving a late pounding by ten-man Palace. The First Division outfit - without four regulars through suspension - had knocked their Premiership opponents out of the Worthington Cup in
A POST office in West Auckland has been raided in the latest in a string of robberies on branches across the region. West Auckland post office was targeted by three men, who threatened employees and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash at about 5.15pm
Where people live influences their body odour - and by hum, it's grim up north, it was claimed yesterday. Northern sweat smells of rotten eggs and cabbage, according to nutritionist and food writer Kevin Gould. And the Scottish have a smell described
Anyone with a knowledge of Charlton's FA Cup history or a memory stretching back far enough may have had visions of the knockout blow so nearly delivered by Conference club Dagenham. Alan Curbishley was just four minutes from having his chin cracked for
TERRY VENABLES insists the FA Cup will survive football's future revolutions. Middlesbrough coach Venables, a Cup winner as a player and manager with Tottenham, last night leapt to the defence of the grand old lady of the English game. The decision of
Shakespeare's Domain My wife and I once down to Stratford we rode On Maud's bus to see where the great bard once abode. They say it's every Englishman's duty To visit his house and the land's wondrous beauty. The bus dropped us off in a huge bus park
POWER SUPPLIES AS A retired electrical engineer I am cautious before casting criticism as I am all too aware that things are not as simple as they first appear. Bearing this in mind, I would like to ask the local electricity board how it is that, at the
Multi-million pound gifts from wealthy businessmen are a matter of pride, not embarrassment, for Labour, the Prime Minister insisted yesterday. Tony Blair said Government legislation coming into effect in February would end worries over rich individuals
BLAYDON cruised into the last 16 of the Intermediate Cup, despite easing off in a 39-20 win at home to Old Laurentians in the fifth round. With Wigton and Bradford and Bingley being knocked out, Blaydon's greatest fear is being drawn away to the only
A SKATING spectacular planned to mark an outdoor ice rink's last weekend was cancelled due to frost. While freezing temperatures may seem ideal conditions for skating, they caused havoc for the rink at Middlesbrough's Victoria Gardens when they caused
The wheel turned full circle for Darlington at a miserable Feethams on Saturday. The last time Rochdale came to Feethams, they were sent packing 4-1 and Quakers dreamed of promotion. Less than a year later, the boot is on the other foot. Rochdale are
