New book features tales of Hartlepool and East Durham characters

Mike Amos, well-known in North-East journalism and non-league footballing circles, has written an autobiography crammed with tales of the people he has met during his career.

Mike Amos, chairman of football’s Northern League for 20 years, recalls hundreds of anecdotes about the North East’s people, places, passions and pubs in Unconsidered Trifles.

Among them are the day he was a guest at former Hartlepool United chairman Garry Gibson’s wedding – the “most opulent” he has ever attended – and his musical appearance on the club’s 1970s fundraising tracks Who Put Sugar In My Tea and Never Say Die.

The 390-page book also heralds characters from the town such as the late Ron Hails, a diehard Pools fan and stalwart at Hartlepool Indoor Bowls Club, and ground-hopping retired postie John Dawson.

Mike, whose career spanned 55 years until leaving The Northern Echo at the age of 73 last year, adds: “It’s not just a football book, of course – the sub-title’s Memories of a jobbing journalist – but the beautiful game provides the thread which runs right through it, a perpetual hope of redemption for the goalie who dropped a goolie.”

Among other tales recounted are Hollywood actor John Alderson’s homecoming to Horden and the over 75s world long-jump record smashed by Trimdon Village’s own Len “The Leap” Watson.

The Queen too also appears after Mike visited Buckingham Palace to receive an MBE for services to journalism.

Unconsidered Trifles costs £10 softback (plus £3.20 postage) and £22 hardback (plus £3 80 postage) from Mike Amos, 8 Oakfields, Middleton Tyas, Richmond, North Yorks, DL10 6SD.

It’s also available via Amazon. Payment and other details via [email protected].

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