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Northern Ventures
2005-2006

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NVNG 101

NVNG 101 - Christmas Edition 2005

Though he's been out injured, Darlington RA's Warren Byrne still leads the League scoring charts with 20 goals, following on 15 by Graeme Armstrong of Dunston Fed on 15. Dave Southern (Blue Star) and Consett's Crag Tate both had 13 when NVNG went to press.

Speaking of which, BBC Radio Newcastle man Paul Dixon, no slouch in his playing days, reckons that young Tate is the nearest thing he's seen to Jimmy Greaves. "His pace and eye for an opportunity are amazing," says Paul. Formerly with Nissan, Craig once scored the winner for England v Scotland Under 15s at Wembley.

Still on the airwaves, Radio Durham went live on December 3 (102.8 and 106.8 fm) with David Fenwick - a bit of a Tow Law fan, they reckon - concentrating on the ANL. David will have a breakfast programme slot to talk about the match he saw the previous evening and co-host a Sunday phone-in (11am-noon) on which ANL callers are encouraged.

Ever more greatly in demand, actor and comedian Brendan Healey has been booked for the League dinner on May 26 next year - with the Bishop of Durham as principal guest. "I do a Catholic charity dinner every year, I know how to behave myself," insists Brendan.

Ever-genial Morpeth Town secretary Les Scott has won £50 as the Non League Paper's Fantasy League "manager of the week". The secret? "The post was going in ten minutes. I just put in the places I'd been on holiday," says Les.

Mike Armitage remains in hospital seven months after being taken ill while on holiday in Spain. Long-serving Shildon secretary and League management committee member, he is also the FA's North-East divisional representative. Mike's wife Audrey said they had been overwhelmed by good luck messages. "He's recently had another setback. We can only hope and pray."

Midfielder David Wells has made his 200th start for Billingham Synthonia, joining long-serving forward Tony Wood as the only present squad member to pass that milestone. Simon Andrews hopes to clock up 200 for Kennek Ryhope, and to score his 50th goal, around Christmas.

Jarrow Roofing have been hit by arsonists, a prefabricated unit housing toilets, hospitality and equipment such as the PA system destroyed. 1t's both frustrating and annoying but we're making every effort to get things back to normal," says club president Brian Marshall.

Knocking copy, Tow Law have organised the inaugural "World Skilful Dominoes Championship". Each player on either side of the table in a round robin format was given the same hand. "It removes the large element of luck" said organiser Charlie Donaghy. The final was in the clubhouse on December 9. The League chairman, lucky beggar, somehow qualified.

Norton's Darryl Tomlinson and Lee Bythway, signed in November from Marske United, have become the first Cleveland officers for 20 years to be selected for the England police team. Darryl got his name in NVNG100, too - said in the Ancients programme to be too nice for a polliss.

Though he travelled up for the game at Alnwick, Dave Rawlings chairman of the Hampshire branch of South Shields Supporters Club has found getting to games quite hard this season. Instead he sent a cheque to cover admission to all the home matches he missed plus programme and raffle tickets as well.

Developed by registrations secretary Dave Robinson and introduced in the summer, the League's registrations website, innovative and informative, has now had more than 30,000 hits an average of 5,000 a month.

We hear that Greg Fee, the FA man in charge until 2004 of "non­league" matters and all the attendant agonising, now runs three filling stations in Sheffield. Greg hopes to gain planning permission to build flats on one site: it's probably what's called restructuring.

Bernard Nixon steps down at the end of the year after three and a half years as the League's referees' secretary. A former referee himself, Bernard wants to spend more time with his family and other interests. "His quiet efficiency impressed everyone," said League chairman Mike Amos. A successor is anxiously being sought.

Darlington RA were named "Team of the Year" at The Northern Echo's "Unsung Heroes" awards as much, it was said, for the players' off-field efforts to help transform the ground to ANL standard as for the Wearside League double in 2004-05. Team manager Dave Woodcock's 12-year-old son Jack received a special award in recognition of his work as the club's public address announcer. "A brilliant little lad," said Echo editor Peter Barron.

Alnwick Town's long awaited new ground has hit further problems after planners recommended refusal of planning permission because of traffic problems. It will be part of a sports complex for the town being developed by the mega-rich Duke of Northumberland. It's thought that the more northerly of football's three St James' Parks will be developed for housing.

Brandon United committee member Billy Fisher, 56, has retired after three years as Durham FA's assistant secretary. "I hope to be able to devote more time to helping the club," he says.

Mike Ingoe, Tow Law's goalkeeper in the immortal 1967 FA Cup run, has written a splendid book on the history of football in the Crawcrook area west of Gateshead - much of it centred around Kingsley Park, now home to Ryton. Richly illustrated, The Final Whistle Blows is published by The People's History (£9.99).

"Social" membership at Crook Town's clubhouse has soared from 92 to more than 500 since the start of the season - chiefly in expectation of the proposed new social and sports facilities at the Millfield. Latest news is that the council is "prevaricating" (or words to that effect) over planning permission.

Referee Mick McDonagh officiated at Dunston Fed's FA Vase replay with Darlington RA despite his father's death earlier in the day. Mick had also had charge of the original game. "It was really big of him, no doubt what his father would have wanted, and he had an outstanding match" says Fed chairman Malcolm James.

When Chris Bone followed his brother Nick into the Whitley Bay side, club historian Lyn Bone discovered that ten sets of brothers had previously played at Hillheads - well remembered names like Frank and Ken Storey, Aidan and Bede McCaffery, Jarrod and Fraser Suddick and, more recently, Graham and Carl Pepper.

... and finally, Horden programme editor John Collings, a home and away follower for the past six years, won his first half-time raffle, at Ashington - so excited, he forgot to collect the prize. "I don't even know what it was," says John, "but whatever it was I reckon that, over the years, it cost me four hundred quid."