EXACTLY 50 years after helping his team to college league triumph, Geoff Wade has been honoured for his service to football – and for his role in the class of ’63.

Better late, there was also recognition for Ray Armstrong, a mechanical engineering lecturer who for 16 years ran the Durham Technical College football team.

“We were the fittest team in the league. They probably didn’t realise how good they were until they got in the showers,” said Ray, a little enigmatically.

Back then it was simply the Tech, still mining County Durham’s rich coal seams. Now it’s New College, a £35m development with about 4,000 full-time students – some of whom train in the on-site travel agency, hairdressing salon and a restaurant that promises international cuisine.

“When I was here you were lucky to get a bag of chips,” said Ray.

Others recalled that Ray could be a little loquacious. “We only had half an hour for football,” said Geoff Wade. “Twenty-seven minutes team talk and three minutes on the pitch.”

The presentation was in the Nouveau Restaurant, a reunion of staff and students some of whom had barely seen one another for half a century but insisted that none had aged a bit.

They also recalled a trip to Calella, in Spain – “scaddin’ hot,” said Tom Baker, distinctly in the English vernacular – from which they returned with a trophy after a penalty shootout.

John Sinclair, to become a Football League linesman, took all five because he was deadly from 12 yards.

Times, and rules, change.

“Ray was at the heart of everything,”

said Tom. “His passion for football was incredible.”

Geoff Wade remembered the Tech for more than football – “It gave me ambition,” he said – though it’s football for which he may best be recalled.

He signed for Horden Colliery, played about 1,000 games, but still remembered the first one. “After the match I couldn’t get my shoe back on – there was half a crown in it. I was that innocent, I went around asking if anyone had lost any money.”

He became a long-serving team manager, guiding the east Durham team to the FA Cup first round and a narrow defeat to Blackpool. “There are people who deserve this a lot more than I do,” he insisted.

We wrote of Geoff a couple of years back, when Horden not only made him a vice-president, but offered him a testimonial match. By then, of course, he’d been a few times round the pit yard. “How much will it cost me?” he said. He still awaits the benefit of the doubtful.

Last week’s event was organised by John Whitfield, another former college team member who played both football and cricket for Durham City. Also, there were former staff members Sam Stoker and Tom Moffatt, both of whom became directors of Durham County cricket club.

Among those unable to attend was Sherburn lad John Wile – Jackie back in Durham Tech days – who made 500 West Bromwich Albion appearances, became the club’s managing director and now helps run a business making state-of-the-art concrete mixers.

Both Ray and Geoff received belated trophies, one from college principal John Widdowson and the other from me. “That’s 78 I have,” said Ray.

“My dad had 83.” Technically, he may add to them yet.