At the time the club and changing rooms were beside the Mail Office while the pitch was up at Rossmere. Undaunted, Joe got on his bike to make a pitch inspection and came back to phone Blaydon to report that it was "iffy." Unfortunately their phone was engaged all the time with players checking in... and there weren't any texts in those days!

So our Joe cycled all the way back to Rossmere for another check, returned to try to contact Blaydon, but to no avail.

Eventually Blaydon's Jim Huxley phoned West and it was agreed that they should not travel.

After all his efforts Joe was distinctly miffed to pick up the Northern Echo on the Monday to see front page [not back page!] headlines slagging off West. It quoted tales of University players travelling from Manchester to play for Blaydon only for the game to be called off at the last minute, etc tec.

Not one to take things lightly our Joe "mentioned" this to Jim who apologised. Joe said he felt that a story in the Echo putting the facts right would be better than a verbal apology.

Well that never happened. But Joe can take some comfort in the fact that Blaydon actually contacted West to arrange last night's fixture, suggested the day and time of kick off, which was confirmed by our coaches - in separate conversations with the Blaydon Director of Rugby and the still going strong Jim Huxley. It was a fixture posted on the Blaydon website and on their club noticeboard.

And yet with a good crowd gathering on a beautiful night, including rugby supporters from Rovers and Horden, ref Steve Havery ready and waiting having been appointed by the Durham Refs, players and coaches changing holiday and work arrangements, food being ordered and prepared, a phone call to Jim to ask where Blaydon where was met with the response "you should have confirmed last week...we're not coming."

So the last word has to go back to Joe: "Back in the 60's we ended the row with the strict understanding that whenever we played Blaydon the only way they would not travel is if we phoned them .... I agreed that personally with Jim Huxley."

Looks like he has forgotten, Joe.