John Phelan

I was a Crook Town supporter so we really did not like Bishop Auckland Football Club. However there were some great games at Kingsway between the two clubs and I can vividly remember an F A Amateur Cup quarter-final replay on the famous ground in the 1956-57 season. It had been 2-2 at Crook in front of a 12,000 crowd and there was a similar 12,000 crowd at Kingsway. Keith Belton says there was more as he recalls that some Crook supporters broke in from the cricket club end. I can honestly tell you that the atmosphere was electric with all those supporters so close to the pitch. I always recall the temporary stands down the cricket pitch side of the ground. They were there that day and behind the goal at the bottom end as well. My stomach churned with excitement from 9am in the morning to 9pm at night and we lost 2-0, I was heartbroken because we were so close to Wembley and the Final.