A WINTER’S day, sub-zero temperatures, falling snow, 12,000 people, corncrakes, balloons, trumpets, rosettes and ten gallon hats...

In County Durham in the 1950s you could only be at two places: either at the Millfield Ground in Crook or Kingsway in Bishop Auckland, with Bishop Auckland and Crook Town fighting it out in the Amateur Cup.

The fans of both clubs went through the emotional mincing machine as stomachs churned and legs wobbled with all the excitement.

The first meeting of these two clubs in the FA Amateur Cup competition was way back in 1901 in a semi-final at Feethams in Darlington. The Bishops were the Amateur Cup holders and favourites, but Crook won the semi-final 2-0 with Creasor and Lear on target. The Millfield club went on to win the trophy that year, beating Kings Lynn in a replay at Ipswich 3-0 with goals from Harwood, Rippon and Hamill.

The Crook team that victorious day in 1901 was Nattrass, Waud, Rule; Law, Rippon, Hamill; Lear, Creasor, Iley, Harwood, Dargue.

The clubs met again in the quarter-final of the 1902-03 season at Kingsway where the Bishops won 7-0.

That was the rivals’ last meeting in the later stages of the Amateur Cup until Wembley's greatest final in 1954. It went to two replays with the clubs fighting like tigers, but Crook eventually ran out winners with a Kenny Harrison goal in the second replay.

However, that was to be Crook's last win over Bishop Auckland in the Amateur Cup.

The competition paired the Kingsway club with the Millfield club in the first round of the 1955-56 competition. Most fans believed that the winners of this tie would go on to lift the trophy at Wembley, and so it proved.

But the match at Kingsway ended 1-1, a Davison penalty for Crook, a Lewin strike for Bishop Auckland. It went to a replay…

The Northern Echo: Ken Harrison scores for Crook Town against Bishop Auckland in the Amateur Cup 1st Round Replay at the Millfield Ground, Crook on Saturday January 28th 1956

Ken Harrison scores for Crook Town against Bishop Auckland in the Amateur Cup 1st Round Replay at the Millfield Ground, Crook on Saturday, January 28, 1956

An inch of snow greeted the players on January 28, 1956, at the Millfield. It was an ill tempered game. Harrison put Crook ahead; Hardisty equalised. Harrison scored again and then McMillan made it 3-1 to Crook.

Typically, Bishop would not lie down and they fought back to equalise before McKenna hit their winner, 4-3.

Bishop went on to win the cup that season beating Corinthian Casuals 4-1 in the final which had to be replayed at Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough. Their goals were scored by Derek Lewin 2, Bob Hardisty and Tommy Stewart.

By chance, it all happened again the following season. Bishop and Crook were paired together to play the quarter-final at Millfield on Saturday, February 23, 1957.

Even the weather put on the same show – it was ridiculously cold, with heavy snow falling throughout the game.

The Northern Echo: VOCAL SUPPORT: Crook fans in confident mood before the FA Amateur Cup quarter-final against Bishop Auckland in 1957.

Crook fans in confident mood before the FA Amateur Cup quarter-final against Bishop Auckland in 1957

Crook supporter Michael Manuel swears there were four inches of snow on the top of his hat at the final whistle, and Bishop Auckland supporter Arnie Alton swears that only a hot drink laced with rum from a Crook fan stopped him from fainting with the cold.

The Northern Echo: The match programme for the Amateur Cup quarter-final between Crook Town and Bishop Auckland on Saturday February 23 1957 at the Millfield , Crook. which was the last Amateur Cup tie between the two clubs. The game at Crook ended 2-2, with Bishop

The match programme for the Amateur Cup quarter-final between Crook Town and Bishop Auckland on Saturday February 23 1957 at the Millfield , Crook.  which was the last Amateur Cup tie between the two clubs.  The game at Crook ended 2-2, with Bishop winning the replay 2-0 at Kingsway.

Perhaps the conditions explain the disappointing crowd of 11,843 who saw Derek Lewin put Bishop ahead and that lead was increased when Childs scored from the halfway line.

Hopper pulled one back from a Jeffs pass before McMillan drilled a shot past Sharratt to make the final score 2-2.

Another replay. It was played in finer weather at Kingsway with at least 12,000 in the ground – “at least” because it is said that hundreds of Crook fans broke into the ground via the Grammar School wall.

O'Connell, of course, put Auckland ahead, and a second goal after the break put Bishop into the semi-finals for the fourth year running. A bugler in the crowd sounded the Last Post – for Crook, and also for the rivalry between these two titans during the golden age of amateur football.

With thanks to Dave Kidd