JACK GREENWELL and John Adamthwaite, both miners, played a big part in the colourful, and exciting life, of Crook Town Football Club in the early 20th Century.

Greenwell, born on March 19, 1884 at Greenfield Cottages, Crook, has been portrayed in a film, won a World Cup winners medal, and played for and managed one of the biggest football clubs in Europe. He even became the only Englishman to manage a team to win the South American championship.

A strong and combative wing half, Greenwell was a Crook Town player but he guested for West Auckland when they won the Sir Thomas Lipton trophy, often referred to as the "first World Cup", in Turin in 1909. He returned to play for Crook until 1912 when he left for the city of Barcelona in the region of Catalonia in Spain. He made 88 appearances for Barcelona Football Club, scoring 10 goals before he made his name managing the Spanish giants for seven seasons, making him the second longest serving manager of Barcelona FC after Johann Cruyff.

He managed other Spanish clubs before his swansong in South America, where he managed Peru to victory in the 1939 South American Championships.

John Adamthwaite was born in Durham on January 11, 1882. He made his name as the Crook Town secretary who was elected onto the very first Northern League management committee along with Harry Farrow (Willington), Robert McLean (Redcar), Will Rand (South Bank) and Richard Shields (Stockton) at the Northern League AGM in the Red Lion Hotel, Redcar on June 15, 1920.

Adamthwaite was also the Crook Town secretary on the club's tour to Barcelona, exactly 100 years ago in April and May 1921. This was Crook's second visit to Catalonia, having gone there in 1913, with Greenwell behind both visits.

l Thanks to Allison Brook for the loan John Adamthwaite's passport. It was the property of her husband John, the great-grandson of John Adamthwaite. Also thanks to Dave Kidd.

WE are saddened to hear of the passing of Colin Burn, a big strong number 9 who represented Wolsingham Steelworks, Wolsingham Welfare, Stanley and Howden-le-Wear on a Sunday.