Struck lucky as it were, Geoffrey Gregg has discovered while moving house a packet of matches produced to mark the 1931 FA Cup final - his Uncle Billy on Birmingham City's losing side. Match of the day, just one has been used.

This is the same Robert Edmond Gregg - "he got Billy at home," says his nephew - who four years later was still described in the Footballers' Who's Who as scorer of "the greatest Cup final goal that was ever disallowed."

There is much more upon which we can throw light - the Framwellgate Moor lad who hit both West Brom's goals in that Wembley West Midlands derby, the former Sunderland amateur who lifted their trophy, the ex-Northern Echo reporter who provided Cup final commentary on the wireless (and later managed Arsenal.)

Whether Gregg's second half header were the greatest, the final - said the Daily Express - was undoubtedly the wettest. "The rain certainly wasn't offside. It fell on one side and then on the other, and it fell all the time."

The Express - with thanks to Steve Smith, our man in the Throstles' nest - noted that the touts had also got a soaking, two bob tickets changing hands for face value. The 92,406 crowd paid £23,366 between the lot of them.

The Echo's report was by the Rev K R G Hunt, who'd been in the Wolves team which beat Newcastle United in the 1908 final. He never once mentioned rain or disallowed goals, but talked quite a lot about himself.

Geoffrey Gregg, recently shifted from Ferryhill to Tursdale, thinks his uncle was born in Shildon, though the record books say Sunderland, January 3 1904.

The 5ft 9in inside forward played for Ferryhill, Cornforth Juniors, Shildon United and Chilton CW before hitting 21 goals in 43 Darlington appearances in 1927-28, signed subsequently for Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham and Chelsea and ended his career across the water at Sligo Rovers. He died in 1991.

While Birmingham fumed, Baggies at ten paces, W G Richardson - who'd learned his football at Hartlepool, Horden Wednesday and up front for the United Bus Company - was scoring twice for West Brom.

Really he was plain Billy Richardson, the 'G', for Ginger, inserted because there was another Bill Richardson in the side.

Tommy Glidden, the West Brom captain, had signed from Sunderland West End in 1922, scored 140 goals in 479 appearances and became a long serving Hawthorns director.

George Allison, one time editor of the Auckland Chronicle and the Echo's man in Redcar, offered a perhaps more urbane account than that to which present day radio listeners are accustomed.

Albion also became the first side - and the last? - to win a Cup and promotion double, the match still known in the Black Country as the W G Final. Truly it is amazing what can be illuminated by a single spent match.

All sorts else happened on April, 25 1931 - Chesterfield beat Gateshead 8-1 to clinch the Third Division (North), Newcastle lost their tenth home game of the season, to Arsenal, goalkeeper Norman Wilkinson, 19, was signed by first division Huddersfield Town from Tanfield Lea Institute.

"He has obtained very satisfactory terms," the Echo noted.

Nowt was so queer, however, as the match between Middlesbrough and Sheffield United, which kicked off 20 minutes late because the visitors had caught the train to Sunderland instead.

Meant to change trains at Stockton, the less than cutting Blades realised too late their mistake and had to commandeer a fleet of taxis from Wear to Tees. "Some of the players," reported the Echo dryly, "never lost their hot and bothered condition throughout."

Right lines, Boro won 3-1.

Diagnosed diabetic at the age of nine, found to have something potentially much worse just a couple of months ago, former Darlington defender Gary Innes was at Whickham FC's sportsmen's dinner on Friday evening. Fit as a flea.

Doctors had discovered a tumour, happily benign, behind his eye. "When they found it, it was as big as a table tennis ball, by the time they operated it was as big as an apple," says Gary, still just 28.

The operation was on January 5 - "they went up through my nose, so there'd be no scars to spoil my good looks" - and five weeks later he was playing Albany Northern League football again.

Previously with Sheffield United, 16 games for the Quakers in 1996-97, he scored twice in his last game before surgery. "I have to admit I wondered if they'd be my last.

"The surgeon told me to give it ten minutes afterwards, then 20, build it up gradually, but to be honest I couldn't wait.

"I've another scan on March 18 but they're confident everything's clear. It doesn't half make you appreciate the joy of being alive."

Gary Innes wasn't the guest speaker, of course. Neil 'Razor' Ruddock was, though nothing he said could be repeated, not even on the walls of a municipal lavatory.

We have also been asked to mention two other functions - the first a dinner this Thursday for Evenwood Town FC, when Gordon Banks holds forth at Rise Carr Sports and Social Club in Darlington, supported by comedian Mickey Gunn. Tickets are £25 from Ken Houlahan on 01325 366091.

Gordon's World Cup winning team mate Jack Charlton, ever entertaining, speaks in support of Willington FC at the Kensington Hall Hotel, Willington, on March 24. Tickets, including buffet, are £15 from John Phelan, 01388 768551.

Friday's column sought help on behalf of Durham County Cricket Club scorer Brian Hunt in tracing five former county men - one of them listed Syd Wade. He was really Syd White. Hunty's on 01388 661783.

And finally...

The four post-war England internationals whose surnames end with the letter "O" (Backtrack, February 25) are John Atyeo (six caps, 1956-57), Ken Shellito of Chelsea, a single cap in 1963, John Salako who won five caps under Graham Taylor and Tony Dorigo, who made 15 England appearances between 1990-94.

Steve Salmon in Darlington today recalls the career of twice capped Kevin Hector, 155 goals in 578 starts for Derby County - but for whom, asks Steve, did he first score 113 goals in 176 Football League appearances?

Hectored no longer, the column returns on Friday.

Published: 01/03/2005