Football scout who raided the North East to feature in new book
The scout who ensured a host of players from the North East made it into the professional game will be the focus of a new book.
Mark Crook ran a feeder team for Wolves in his native South Yorkshire.
It was from this base where he scouted talent throughout Yorkshire with the best heading to Molineux.
But Crook did not stop at the North Yorkshire boundary and went further into the North East for players.
The likes of goalkeepers Jim Barron from Tantobie and Darlington's Jeff Wealands both came through Crook's system before heading to Wolverhampton.
Another shot-stopped in David Lawson, from Wallsend, also played for Crook's Wolves side at Brampton, between Rotherham and Barnsley.
Alan Murray, a solid professional from Newcastle who later coached alongside Graeme Souness, was another of Crook's discoveries.
Oxford United legend Maurice Kyle, also from Darlington, was also scouted by Crook before heading off on a footballing journey.
Norman Corner from Horden and Tantobie's Kevin McMahon are two others on Crook's considerable CV which included the likes of Ron Flowers, Alan Sunderland and Steve Daley.
Crook's Wolves team would have also come up against Newcastle United, Sunderland and Middlesbrough in Northern Intermediate League fixtures.
A new book celebrating Crook's achievements is out later this year and will feature interviews with Barron, Wealands and Murray.
They tell their stories of how they made the long journey to South Yorkshire as teenage boys in the hope of earning a golden ticket of a trial at Wolves under the legendary Stan Cullis.
'Feeding The Wolves' is being written by Barnsley Chronicle journalist Ashley Ball and is available to pre-order at the early bird price of £12 until September 30.
The book will be out in early December and you can order a copy by visiting: https://dondearneschoolfootball.wordpress.com/mark-crooks-wath-wolves/