Willington striker Paul Gibbs is hoping the club can repay him by helping him with a university asignment, writes JOHN PHELAN.

Paul, 23, a former pupil of the John Spence Community High School in North Shields is studying on a three-year foundation degree course in sports studies at Northumberland University and hopes to become a PE teacher.

His goal last Saturday helped the relegation-threatened Northern League Division Two club gain a vital point against South Shields, and he said: "I was an engineer in the Navy for six years and was based in Portsmouth and Plymouth so this is a complete career change for me.

"As part of my first year's work I have to write an asignment on a voluntary organisation so I chose Willington.

"If I do well on the three-year course I will study for another year and gain the qualifications I need to become a PC teacher."

Paul is in his second season with the Hall Lane club and his goals at Alnwick and Whickham helped the club to two of their four league wins this season.

Paul's father is Brian Gibbs a former player with North Shields in the 1970s who at the age of 41 turned out himself for Willington last season.