It was only a couple of years ago that we agonised over whether  we  could start a second team. Could we afford the travel and would there be enough lads willing to to turn up for away games?

The answer was "yes" and the success of the Stags then was very  much down to the hard work of Graeme Southern, and colleagues such as Chris Harrison, in motivating players and getting them to play in the same style as the first team.

The legacy has been that the Stags have once again won the CaNDY league [first division, no less] and there has been a regular supply of players into the first team, including the likes of Adam Coates, Ben Lloyd, Gavin Robinson and Stu Waites.

Last summer "Sos" handed over the reins of the Stags to the capable hands of Antony Cameron and Michael Siddle. He volunteered for what looked to be an even harder task - the Bucks. Newly formed, and a mixture of very young players with some experienced heads from the Amateurs, he has once again pulled it off with the help of team manager Steve "Elmo" Wilkinson.

Carol Vorderman may be needed to decide when and whether they do actually win the Tees Valley Merit League but, maths apart, there's no doubt they have the best playing record.

And this weekend they have the cup final against City. Previous attempts to organise a fixture between the two sides have failed because Durham said they have a shortage of players. However,  they've pulled a side together for the cup and gained an impressive win in the semi-final against a fancied Durham University side.

It promises to be an exciting tussle with the only pity that the first team game denies the Bucks the strength of support they, and Sos, undoubtedly deserve. Good luck lads.