Kindly shared by Steve Walker

ON THIS DAY: 3 NOVEMBER 1985

Venue: Eldon Square Recreation Centre

Event: Midland Bank North East Sports Day

The day David took on the Goliaths and won!

The Mens 5-a-side football competition was, every year, a keenly fought tournament but no one could have foreseen the outcome in 1985 apart from myself and my team-mates!

Heaton branch (now closed) was a small out of town office on the outskirts of Newcastle-on-Tyne up against City Centre branches and Area Offices in the competition, many of who could afford to enter 2 or 3 teams.

On the Friday prior to the event we only had four players!

Who could we ask to play for us?

Our last hope was whoever our last messenger visiting the branch on Friday was David Wilkie. He agreed to play, but we had no idea whether he could play football or not.

Here's how it turned out.

Qualifying Group:

Heaton 15 Saddler St. Durham 0

Heaton 7 Cleveland Area Office C 1

Heaton 6 Wearside Area Office B 3

Quarter-Final:

Heaton 7 East Northumberland Area Office B 0

Semi-Final:

Heaton 5 East Northumberland Area Office A 3

(after extra time)

Andin a very physical Final.

Heaton 2 Wearside Area Office A 0

I have never seen a more proud man that evening than our Branch Manager at the time, the late Gerry Beauvoisin. A great guy!

Pictured from left to right.

Back Row: Michael Mitchell, Steve Walker, Iain Patterson

Front Row: David Wilkie, Simon Lenney

And, in case you're wondering David could play football and got a goal in the Final!

Wonderful memories!