A BID to find the footballers whose fancy footwork helped put their club in the history books, has proved successful.

Housing developer Bett Homes has been searching the region for three Crook Town Football Club players - Ray Snowball, Eddie Appleby and Jim McMillan - who played during the 1950s and 1960s.

The developers are building a 63-home development in the town, and Wear Valley District Council decided to name three streets after the trio in honour of their sporting achievements.

After an appeal in The Northern Echo, readers helped to track down the men, who won a number of FA Amateur Cup medals at a time when the club attracted 17,500 fans.

Jim McMillan, 68, is a retired town planner now living in Kibblesworth, Gateshead, Eddie Appleby, 75, is a retired joiner from Wallsend, now living in Cramlington, Northumberland and former goalkeeper Ray Snowball, 69, is living in East Boldon, South Tyneside.

Mr Snowball, previously a head teacher at East Boldon Primary School, said: "It was a bit of a surprise hearing we'd been in the paper, but it will be interesting to visit the streets when they are built and see how we've made our mark."

Snowball Close, McMillan Drive and Appleby Court will form the layout for Bett Homes' detached family homes, not far from Crook Town's ground.

Geoff Williams, sales manager at Bett Homes said: "We've had a great response from the public to our search for the footballers and we've experienced a lot of interest in the site.

"Plots are currently being released for sale. The first houses will be finished in the New Year when we plan to get Ray, Eddie and Jim across for a visit and photograph."