IN August 1958 The Northern Echo announced that Seamus O'Connell had decided to join my team Crook Town, and even though I was only 8 years of age, I thought it was brilliant news, writes John Phelan.

After an Amateur Cup quarter final defeat to Bishop Auckland in 1957 and a semi-final defeat to Ilford in 1958, I was sure O'Connell would take Crook to Wembley for the Amateur Cup Final, because Seamus O'Connell was the greatest Amateur footballer I ever saw.

First and foremost he could hit a ball - hard!! - and with both feet. I once asked former Crook goalkeeper Ray Snowball, "Out of all the players you played against, who had the hardest shot,?" Without thinking he said "O'Connell"

I remember a goal he scored for Bishop Auckland against Crook at Kingsway with Ray in goal. Bishop, kicking towards the Dellwood end, were ahead and looking to seal the game. O'Connell was stood to the left of the Crook goal, at the edge of the penalty area. A ball was played through to him which looked as if it would run out of play for a goal-kick. O'Connell caught the ball just before it rolled over the bye-line, and then hit a shot with his left foot and the ball flew inside the near post and into the far corner of the net. I remember looking at Ray Snowball's position, he hadn't moved, because he, and everyone else in the ground, thought a shot from that angle wasn't on.

Secondly, O'Connell took up good positions, it is an instinctive skill and in a player's DNA. Of todays' players, Harry Kane is very similar to O'Connell, in the right place at the right time. Seamus was also good at finding space and playing defence splitting passes. Tommy Orrick, sadly not with us anymore, told the story of how O'Connell would approach him before a game and say, "Tommy as soon as I get the ball, start your run up the field and behind your full back." Tommy said, "I did exactly as he said and received the most perfect pass to run onto every time."

O'Connell was also good in the air and scored a lot of goals with diving headers. There is a photograph on the page illustrating his ability and athleticism to dive in the air and find the net with a diving header.

For further testimony of his prowess Jim Lewis, who like O'Connell, also played as an Amateur for Chelsea in the 1950's, said that O'Connell was the best inside forward he ever played with, and Lewis played with Jimmy Greaves. If you want more evidence don't forget that when he hit a hat-trick on debut for Chelsea against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in October 1954, Duncan Edwards, Bill Foulkes and Roger Byrne were all in the Busby Babe's defence while Harry Gregg was in goal. You're talking about the cream of British defenders there.

There are numerous stories about him. John Heatherington can recall a day at Evenwood when Crook were without a centre forward. Seamus looked up and pointed to John who was normally a defender or midfield player, "You go centre forward John, you'll score." "How do you know that," said John, "I'll put one on a plate for you," replied Seamus. John said, "I played at number nine and hit a hat-trick."

John Weir talks about the cotton wool Seamus stuffed down his socks to protect his legs.

John Walton, Crook's reserve keeper in the 1950's recalled a game at Penrith. "Seamus, who was dating a girl from Hunwick at the time, didn't travel with us to Penrith as he lived near Carlisle and could make his own way there. The Saturday before the Penrith game he came over to me and said, "When my girlfriend gets on the bus John, you sit with her, and don't let Colin Bainbridge or Ray Wilkie anywhere near her." John said, "There were always girls after Seamus, I've seen dozens of them queuing up outside the ground after a game."

Arnold Alton recalls a victory parade and then speeches from the balcony of the Town Hall in Bishop Auckland market place after Bishop had won the Amateur Cup one year. "Seamus made his speech," said Arnold and then finished with, "If any of you young girls would like to meet me, I'll be at the bar in the Queens Head in fifteen minutes."

Thanks to Dale Daniels for his help with this piece.

Answer to last week's question - Lester Piggott rode Red Rum twice. At Pontefract in a mile race when the 2 year old finished third and then again as a 3 year old in a mile handicap at Aintree where Red Rum was beaten by a short head.

Next week the Sunderland centre forward who fielded for Glamorgan when Gary Sobers hit six 6's off Malcolm Nash.