CLUB SUCCESS

YOUR otherwise excellent Village Life article covering Middleton St George (Echo, Feb 19) was very comprehensive with important community figures interviewed, but it failed to mention the efforts of local people to set up and run Middleton Rangers Junior Football Club, one of the most successful initiatives within the village in recent times.

Residents led by the then chairman, Kevin Harland, set up the club in the 2003-2004 season. While it was a struggle initially, and with a significant bit of help and advice from Paul Bielby, of Master Skills Football Academy, the club managed to get three sides into the local leagues.

Middleton parish councillor Steve York then took charge and guided the club to its most successful period to date, winning two league titles in 2005-2006.

This year, under the guidance of new chairman Les Hughes, the club has further expanded with sides giving more than 250 children a focal point to expend their energies, rather than hanging about the streets.

If any Middleton, Hurworth, Sadberge, Long Newton village children are interested in joining the success that is Middleton Rangers JFC then please contact Les Hughes on 07834-858969. - Mark Anderson, press officer, Middleton Rangers JFC, Middleton St George, near Darlington.

DARLINGTON FC

I MUST congratulate Darlington Football Club on the recent run of good form. Chairman George Houghton allowed the manager to go out and bring in several new players during the recent transfer window, and it is because of this that the team is surging up the table.

It is not just the activity on the field that is getting better, as the food now being served at the stadium is scrumptious and very well priced, too.

Better days may lie ahead for the Quakers, and I, for one, applaud the chairman like a crazed seal for making life much better for the supporters. - Christopher Wardell, Darlington.