With so much else going on in the world at the moment, it is perhaps comforting for some to have their own welcome distractions from the stresses of everyday life.

For 56-year-old John Smith that escapism comes in the form of Albany Northern League Division Two side Seaham Red Star.

A steep walk up to the club's Seaham Town Park ground from the clubhouse allows you the perfect vista to see the pluses and minuses of the club.

A quick look across the pristine playing surface from the slightly less flattering surroundings of the main stand - a regular haunt for the town's Friday night teenage drinkers, who, by the looks of the blackened walls, have one or two spare matches as well - allows you to appreciate the work that is needed to keep a club like Red Star functioning.

Vandalism is one drawback many non-league clubs have to endure and John concedes: "Unfortunately it's a problem which we can do little about at the moment.

"We've applied for an FA grant which will hopefully provide us with a secure fence around the ground to keep the vandals out.

"It's a big problem with a lot of clubs in the Northern League.

"Hopefully when this big fence gets around in the summer it should be ok for the start of next season and we can keep the vandals out."

Grant permitting, the erection of a vandal-proof fence won't be the first modification on the ageing ground which was this week undergoing a minor facelift.

Fresh from an impressive 2-0 win at third-placed Horden on Tuesday night, the club is well on course for a swift return to Division One under new boss Neil Hixon - providing the terraces meet League requirements.

Today John is in deep discussion with Keith Henson, the groundsman, with the terraces topping their action list.

"He's been giving us advice about the hard standing we need," John informs me.

"The council are providing part of the material we need, but we've got to muck in and do it all ourselves.

"With us doing so well at the moment we have a ground inspection on Saturday morning to make sure that it's good enough for the Northern League First Division in the event that we do get promoted.

"The standards the Northern League need are hard standing a metre wide all the way around the ground and seating of up to 150.

"The manager and the players are doing the business on the pitch so it is up to us to get our bit done off it."

John is quick to praise the work of Durham County Council who he believes have played a large part in helping the club with its progress.

"We're working hand in hand with the council and they've done a great job for us," says John. "They've helped us a great deal with materials and that sort of thing.

"We can't really thank them enough.

"It certainly helps but we still have a lot of work to do ourselves."

Indeed, the club regularly hosts fundraising events with sportsman's dinners, race nights and John even has a casino evening planned for the future.

"Obviously money's at a premium for clubs like ourselves," says John.

"We're always looking for different ways to raise funds and we are forever thankful to our sponsors.

"As well as that we have taken a young girl as our charity."

That young girl is 11-year-old Rachel Spence who is suffering from an inoperable brain tumour.

"She wants to go and swim with the dolphins in Florida so we've had a few nights to help raise money for that," adds John.

And if the work-rate of John and the rest of the Red Star team are anything to go by then Rachel's dream is sure to become a reality.

John is a self-employed businessman who divides his time between owning a general store and off-licence in Seaham, and carrying out the day-to-day duties involved in running a non-league football club.

John has never looked back since joining the club's committee eight years ago.

And asked how the love affair first came about John replies with a grin: "I was conned into it think!

"If you ask the wife she will tell you the football comes first and I would probably agree.

"I've often said that if I put as much energy into the business as I do into football I would be retired by now!

"You'll never catch me in the shop during the day because I'm always up here or doing something with regards to the club."

John may well have been spending a whole lot more time in his shop but for the intervention of a group of locals - including himself - keen to see the club stay afloat.

Two years after finishing runners-up in the First Division, the club were relegated for the first time in its 30 year history last season.

And as a result support within the club dwindled and officials were forced to take the reluctant step of tendering the club's resignation from the League.

However a new committee was formed led by you know who.

"We almost folded last season because we didn't have any help," says John.

"There was only three of us on the committee and it was just too much.

"Since then other people have came on board and helped out.

"Everybody' just got stuck in."

These changes also saw John step down as club chairman after two years, making way for Tom Goodrum and the appointment of former Peterlee and Eppleton boss Hixon.

"Since Neil took over we've just gone from strength to strength," says John.

"When he first arrived at the club he asked me what I wanted for the season.

"I said I would love the Craven Cup and a top six finish.

"We're in the semi-final of the Craven Cup and we're in the top six.

"I'm getting greedy now but I would love promotion!"

A rollercoaster ride on the pitch it may have been but away from football it's fair to say that John has had more than his fair share of ups and downs to contend with in recent months.

He lost a young niece in a tragic car crash on New Year's Eve and only recently waved his son James off to the Gulf.

He said: "I'm finding it a bit hard at the moment and the football is more of a relief than anything else.

"It's a hell of a worry with James being away.

"The football is a sort of escape for a couple of hours.

"I'm putting the news on at eight in the morning and turning it off 11 'o'clock at night.

"All you can do is try and keep the spirits up.

"Added to that my daughter's expecting a baby at any time so who needs football?!"

So what does the future hold for John Smith and his beloved Red Star?

"For the next three or four seasons we want to get in the First Division, hold our own and our eventual aim is to be the top team in the Northern League," says John.

"We know it won't be easy but that's our aim and from there who knows?

"Next step up from there is the UniBond League which I wouldn't discount but that's something we would have to discuss if and when the time came."

Not bad progress for a team which began its existence as a Sunday morning side just 30 years ago.

Published: 04/04/2003