This report is from the Consett Guardian dated 10th September 1926. It was the first year of the North West Durham League.
1926 was the year of the General Strike, and the article refers to "industrial turmoil", but the clubs played all their games.
Note: The Consett Guardian report says that "Allandale found that they were unable to complete their arrangments." The League records state that "The first games were played during the 1926 season, but Allendale-Westwood had reluctantly withdrawn in late May, giving as their reasons "straightened circumstances during the current coal crisis", i.e. it was Allendale-Westwood rather than "Allandale". Thanks to Pat Armstrong, Hon. Chairman and Treasurer NWDBL, for this information.
The adjacent column in the Consett Guardian reported on a man stung by wasps. The Club is familiar with the behaviour of wasps in September. The occupants of a nest in the pavilion, in September 2022, resulted in several members of the Club being stung, before the problem was dealt with by the Council.
MAN ATTACKED BY WASPS
AT HAMSTERLEY
Mr Fred Lock, an esteemed official of the Hamsterley Colliery Company, and a native of Leadgate, had an alarming experience whilst working in his garden the other day. He must have inadvertently disturbed a wasps nest and was immediately attacked by several of the vicious little creatures. While engaged in knocking some of the swarm off his face Mr lock dislodged his spectacles, and as he was unable to find them he was still further handicapped in his fight with the “enemy”.
Had not three young men opportunely arrived at the scene and seen Mr Lock’s plight, it is within the bounds of possibility that he would have been stung to death, but the timely assistance resulted in the wasps being worsted after some difficulty.
Some of the insects had lodged in their victim’s ears, and others had found their way inside his shirt. Hundreds settled on his cap which had to be thrown on the ground and stamped on before they could be disposed of.
Mr Lock was in a state of collapse, and nearly 20 stings were extracted from his face alone.