Felling stalwart Chris Pleasants has just completed the remarkable record of taking 3000 wickets for the Federation Special Durham Senior League club.

Apart from playing a handful of games for Philadelphia, a few months at Northants and a couple of brief spells as a professional, he has played all his cricket with Felling after making his debut in 1974.

"I remember the day very well. The game was against Chopwell in the North West Durham League and I was brought on as third-change. I took four wickets for four runs and finished the season top of the Club's bowling averages," said Chris.

In 1976 he played a few games for Philadelphia and then went to Northants but quickly returned to the North-East and became professional with both Benwell and Bill Quay.

But he was soon back with Felling and despite being asked on several occasions to again turn professional he has remained loyal to the Tynesiders.

Chris claimed his 3000th victim in a cup tie against South Shields when he took the wicket of John Dunn. "People ask me how I could possibly have taken 3000 wickets but they forget that at in their hey day Felling entered up to 15 cup competitions and were playing 60 games a season," added Chris.

"I rarely missed a match and still bowl at one end all afternoon, sending down 28 overs if required, but things are not the same anymore. There is not the interest and I blame too much football and lack of involvement by schools.

"When I was a kid we played cricket all summer at school but now there is little coaching and of course the football season encroaches like it never did. Perhaps the tide will turn back but I know of a lot of clubs who are finding it difficult to turn out two teams and only last week I read of Simonside having to withdraw their second team from the Roseberry Group North East Durham League.

"It's a sign of the times but I've enjoyed my 27 years in the game and hope to play for quite a while yet," added Chris.