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Couldn`t make the Sutton game as had to go up North. Whilst there took in Horden Colliery Welfare v Billingham Synthonia, Northern League Div 1.

HCW have been in existence for 100+ years. They won Div 2 last season so are back in Div 1.

Their honours list in the programme is weird. Okay you would remeber things like, 1963/64 North Eastern League Champions but....... 1991/92 three points deducted (!), and then again 1996/97.... 3 points deducted. And once more 2006/07..... 3 points deducted, relegated to Div 2! Not what you expect to find in an honours list!

The ground is at the bottom of a hill but built into the side so the pitch is flat. Post and rail around the pitch, knee high so be careful not to trip over it. They have a wooden stand, just like our old stand, but it is perched up on top of the dressing room block, so giving an elevated view. Mind you if you sit in the wrong place you can't see the game because of the huge metal gates at each side (presumably to keep out the local riff raff from setting fire to it when the ground is empty).

Billingham won quite comfortably 2-0, the Horden keeper kept them in the game. A late second half sub by Horden came on to beef up the attack. He was huge in all directions and could have doubled as a battering ram, cos that was the way he played, think Pat Terry (Norwich, Brentford 70s) - but with no skill! 15 seconds after coming on he clattered into a defender, what me ref?

The crowd (50sh) seemed more interested in how Sunderland were getting on (losing).

BTW, Billingham Synthonia, are known as the Synners, and get their strange name from a bag of fertiliser.Before 1994 they were connected with ICI Billingham, a huge chemical plant, and were called Synthetic Ammonia, after one of ICI`s main agricultural products (you really wanted to know this didn't you - might be a quiz question one day!). Also in 1950/51 they went through a home league season without conceding a goal, mind you that was only 13 games, 12 wins 1 draw, 44 goals for , none against!

Unfortunately I didn't win the raffle.

You should have come with me to SJP dad. Only 44,850 (ish) more people there. Even the wife enjoyed it, and that is saying something.

Another fascinating travelogue Les but how was it 'up north' compared to Margate.

Les, now i understand your post better in Hampton v Sutton thread.

Margate, horrible, even the locals agree.

Horden is a typical mining village (though the `pit` is now closed). It always seemed a bit more posh when compared to other mining villages in the area. At least, unlike Easington Colliery down the road, most of its shops are open and not boarded up.

"think Pat Terry (Norwich, Brentford 70s)"

I'm glad you added the brackets... I was thinking Pat Terry, mother of Chelsea defender, who also likes to shop for free at M&S and Tesco's