MARC RICHES is the goalie who kept the faith. Though every single team-mate left when the money ran out, the custodian remains steadfastly at his post.

For Riches for poorer? “It never even entered my head to leave,” insists the Durham City shot stopper, who even pays his own petrol money to get to matches.

“I’ve been playing senior football since I was 16 and done quite well from it. I know there are money spiders but I’m not one of them.

It was time to give something back.

“This is a great club from the kitman to the guy who locks the gate at night. They don’t get paid, so it doesn’t matter that I don’t. I want to end my career here.”

Marc, a 37-year-old electrician from Hartlepool – “I’m two days older than the grass,” he says, doubtless a local expression – has the backing of his wife to carry on rewardless.

“If I’ve earned £40 I’ve thought champion, and if I’ve earned £100 even better but now I earn nothing and I can really say that I play for pleasure. It was time to put my mouth where my money was.”

Promoted in successive seasons from the Northern League first division to the UniBond League premier division, City were rocked two months ago when the principal sponsor pulled out.

Since then, the club have fielded teams of youngsters mostly recruited from the local sixth form college, have failed to win a point, suffered some heavy defeats. Riches, says club chairman Stewart Dawson, has been brilliant.

The chairman had called a dressing room meeting at which he explained the crisis to the players and asked those who wanted out to take a step forward.

“I think that Marc was too old and too slow to move,”

says Stewart.

“I think he’s right,” says the affable keeper.

Since then Marc has not only stood between them and even bigger hidings but – unsung and unpaid – has used his own car to get to places like North Ferriby, on Humberside.

Soon he’ll face the nine hour round-trip to Kings Lynn.

“He understood what was happening and he’s been absolutely incredible,” says Stewart.

“We all know of players who’ll go anywhere for an extra fiver. But he’s stopping here for nothing. Best of all, he’s doing it all with a huge smile on his face.

“He loves working with the kids, loves sharing his experience, and they absolutely love him. They’re still trying to play football despite our situation and are doing really well.

“All the time Marc’s there encouraging them. Even if we had the money, you couldn’t buy that.”

Marc has played for half the teams in the Northern League and Gateshead and Whitby Town in the Unibond.

Three years ago he returned for a second spell at Durham.

“I don’t know what the wage bill was but it must have been pretty high because there were some quality players here. Some of them would have stopped if there’d even been half the money, even a bit of expenses, but they couldn’t afford to play for nothing.

“I really enjoy working with the kids. I might shout at them occasionally but that’s just frustration, I know it does no good.

“They’re really good players and they’re hanging on in. My only worry is that they’ll get spotted, too, and go somewhere else for money.”

City hope to obtain FA permission to return to the Northern League, where the travelling distance is about a fifth of the Unibond, in 2010- 11. Marc still hopes to be there.

“I’ve always loved the Northern League and there are some great footballers there. I hope still to have another couple of seasons, to see it through for Durham.”

Perhaps more than coincidentally, the electrical company for which he works is also renovating the floodlights at City’s ground. Light work, the largesse stops there.

“I just hope they’re paying the bills,” says the last of the true amateurs, “it’s an awfully long way to climb up to take the bulbs out again.”

Drinkhall’s face fits for Open

THE English Open Table Tennis championships take place at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield from October 28-November 1, most of the world’s top players expected to be there. Paul Drinkhall’s the poster guy, the country’s front man.

We wrote of Paul back in March, after he’d become the first person to win all four English titles – including Under-21 – at the same event.

It pushed him to 128th in the world, but still not into the European top 50.

Still just 19, the lad from Loftus, east Cleveland, is now up to 117th in the world rankings – “definitely going in the right direction,”

says Andy his dad – though still just 69th in Europe.

Though the sport has rarely gripped the nation, Paul’s still batting for the London Olympics, hoping for gold.

“He’s still training six hours a day and that’s before all the physical stuff,” says his dad.

This summer he won the under 21 section of the Chinese open.

He also plays for a German side which is in the champions’ league and lives near the national centre with fellow international Joanne Barker. In the Sheffield doubles he’s paired with Darius Knight.

“He just seems never to be off the road,” says Andy. “He’s very hopeful at least of getting a medal in 2012, but really he shouldn’t peak until he’s 26 or 27, so the 2016 Games might be an even stronger possibility.”

Paul himself is down with what appears to be a flu bug.

Sadly, his mobile seems also to be affected. We’ll get an interview yet.

FLOUR power, Home Pride are living up to their name. Millers’ tale, the company encouraged folk in the Baring Court sheltered accommodation at Tow Law to raise money for a local cause. Albert Graham; a lifelong Lawyer, suggested the football club and – especially helped by Nancy Liddle, a cleaner at the complex – raised an extraordinary £784.

Attractions over four hours included a tombola, cake stall, guess the bear’s birthday and a “magnificent” buffet provided by Home Pride.

The picture, above, showing Albert and Nancy with Kevin McCormick and Steve Moralee of the football club, was taken by Charlie Donaghy – who’s now weighing in with some fundraising of his own.

Charlie, familiar in Tow Law and way beyond, is embarking on a sponsored slim – the starting point distinctly on the ponderous side – in the hope of raising £1,000 for the local primary school.

“The kids have a corner that they want to turn into a secret garden. They’ve done all the plans themselves, but like every school in the land, we’ve nothing in the budget,”

he says.

Very many, in all kinds of sports and games, have cause to know Charlie’s weight and worth. He’s on 01388 730444.

ATTENTION caught by the rotating advertising boards during Wednesday’s England match at Wembley, John Briggs noticed a message to millions: “Brandon United needs you.” It’s part of a wider campaign, apparently, to get more folk involved in grass roots football – but Brandon United are one of those who really could use some new pairs of hands. If it pays to advertise, club secretary Barry Ross is on 0191- 378-3680.

TRAVELLERS’ tales, Tuesday’s column not only noted Shildon’s extraordinary 17 successive away ties in the FA Vase – almost certainly a football record – but that Arsenal had been drawn away throughout the 1970-71 and 1971-72 FA Cup campaigns, in both seasons reaching the final.

It prompted an email from Andrew White in Richmond.

In 1947-48, he says, Manchester United played all their Cup games away, despite usually being drawn at home, because of bomb damage at Old Trafford.

“Every team they played were in the first division, like them, and every one was beaten by at least two goals, including Blackpool 4-2 in the final.”

United were also drawn away in every round in 1989- 90, each time against “double barrelled” opposition, including Crystal Palace in the ultimately victorious final.

“Unlucky Arsenal?” says Andrew. “Try telling that to a devoted Manchester United fan.”

■ Shildon’s programme adds a PS. “The men at the FA must have the phrase ‘Will play Shildon’ on a loop,” it laments.

ON Tuesday night to Thornaby v Guisborough, the fixture listed in that morning’s Echo and in other publications.

The gates were locked, the approach deserted save for Ann and Allan Barkas – they of skilltrainingltd, the League sponsors – who also believed what they read in the papers.

A couple of pints in the Roundel, then a call to league secretary Tony Golightly to check the score (or not, as the case may be.) Thornaby and Guisborough, said Tony, weren’t due to meet until April 5. There are those who’ve been an hour early for a match, occasionally maybe a day. But nearly six months? That may be a record, an’ all.

ON the last bus home, a familiar hour these days, a chap produces a betting slip from five weeks ago. It confirms his £30 at 200-1 that Darlington, then bottom of League Two, could end the season as champions. The bet, he concedes, is looking a little vulnerable. “Mind,” he adds, “I’d had a fair few at the time.”

...and finally

THE reason that the Argentine midfielder Alonso wore No. 1 in the 1978 World Cup (Backtrack, October 13) was that the shirts were allocated alphabetically.

“I believe the famous man from Tottingham wore No.

2,” adds Duncan McFaull, who knew.

Chris Orton, who wondered if it might be because a number had fallen off, may be considered singularly mistaken.

Not to be outdone, Chris in turn invites readers to name the only footballer who has won Premier League championships with two different clubs.

The column returns on October 27.