Harton and Westoe hope that their facilities will be completely upgraded for the start of the 2002-3 season.

The club's long-standing ambition to provide the very best is gradually nearing fruition and work on the ground could start before the end of the present campaign.

"The football and cricket pitches will stay, but everything else will be replaced," said chairman Bob Shepherd. "Housing will go on the site, leading in from the main road, utilising the present car park.

"We will have new changing accommodation, a clubhouse and a sizeable car park. The plans also include the provision of floodlights.

"Although work could be completed by early 2002, I think it will not be until the beginning of the 2002-3 season that we start to use the new facilities."

Shepherd is enthusiastic about the development and so too is his 84 year-old mother, Frances, who is looking forward to having a new kitchen. She hosts the tea room at every home match but is limited in what she can offer spectators. "I've been promised all modern facilities and I will be able to put on hot food. It's what people like, especially on a cold day," she said.

When last Saturday's game was postponed Frances went along and watched Cleadon SC play Annfield Plain at the Jack Clark Park. "Cleadon made me very welcome. It was cold so they opened up the gear hut and brought me a chair so that I could watch the match in a bit more comfort. I try to look after visiting spectators and the hospitality is always reciprocated." said the grand old lady of the Wearside League. The match at Cleadon ended acrimoniously when referee John Challoner of Consett called a halt with four minutes remaining. Four players from Cleadon had been booked and two sent off and Durham FA will now consider the referee's report. There were happier times for Cleadon on Monday night when former Liverpool player Tommy Smith was speaker at a dinner which attracted 250 people