Evening Gazette

Volunteers Are Top of the Crop

YOUNG sporty Teessiders have won praise for their voluntary work. Outstanding volunteers from Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton and Redcar & Cleveland and Teesside University were recognised at Tees Valley Sport Young Sports Volunteer Awards.

Eagles Fly High ; Volleyball

NORTH Riding Eagles are hitting a busy time of the season as they fight on all fronts. In the Women's National Volleyball League Division 3 the team have battled up to third place which is a fantastic achievement in their first season in the national league. Having half the squad made up of juniors makes third place in the league a remarkable feat.

New Players

TWO football clubs are looking to expand. Marton FC Under-7 team is looking for new players. The team train twice a week and play two games every weekend. For details contact Peter Brewer on 07773069579, or email pbrewer1@sky.com.

Club's Medal Haul ; Karate

MEMBERS of the Abdu Shaher's Sokudo Karate clubs attended the third Teesside University Karate Open which was hosted by Teesside University. Last weekend's event attracted 150 competitors from across the North of England.

Cours Friendly League

NOW that the season enters its final third sectional issues are still up for grabs. Blytholme hold the whip hand in both Billiards and Snooker.

We Have Pride in Where We Live ; Community Comes Together to Help Care for Their Area

THE seeds of true community spirit were sown at an event in Ormesby. The Chathill Walk Garden Project aims to encourage residents and children to look after their neighbourhood and take pride in the area.

Inside

Faction Pledge to Back Boro

MIDDLESBROUGH Futsal Club host Sheffield FC in The FA Futsal League North, tomorrow, at Thornaby Pavilion, kick off 1.30pm, and Boro are expecting a record crowd with the help of Boro supporters, Red Faction. Boro haven't had the best opening half of the season and need a vast improvement if they are to move up the table and challenge for a play-off spot, though that is very unlikely admits manager Damon Shaw. He said: "We are all but out of it. I've challenged the players to show a big impro...

Defeat at Double

Acklam Juniors Under-12 Bishop Auck 15-0 Acklam Juniors ACKLAM'S first match of the round robin was against the home team, Bishop Auckland. Acklam put up a good fight against the bigger lads, most notably in the scrum where they held their own very well.

Mud Takes Its Toll in Cup Loss ; Rugby

Yorkshire Cup Under-17 Middlesbrough 8-18 Barnsley THE only previous fixture between the teams was a year ago in the Yorkshire Cup where Boro were victorious. However, with only 14 players, that was always going to be difficult to repeat, especially in the mud that was Barnsley's second pitch.

French Connection ; Futsal

MIDDLESBROUGH Futsal Club's youth team entered an Under-21 tournament at the weekend and gained their first experience of futsal at the top level. They travelled to Roubaix in France to compete in the Eurometropole Under-21 tournament, hosted by Roubaix Futsal, the most decorated French futsal club.

Work Begins to Give Cole the Space He Needs ; Kind-Hearted Folk Get Building Started

WORK has begun on a community-led extension for a disabled three- year-old boy. Billingham tot Cole Lancaster was diagnosed with cerebral palsy - a neurological condition that affects movement and co-ordination - shortly before his first birthday.

Election Bid Is Launched

LIBERAL Democrats have unveiled their mayoral and council elections campaign under the banner A Better Future for Middlesbrough. Chris Foote-Wood is the party's mayoral candidate and the party will also field several candidates in the council elections.

Time to Boogie ; Inbrief

Club's Got Rhythm ; Inbrief

Jump to It for Autism Charity ; Inbrief

Driver Is Praised for Fast Actions

A QUICK-THINKING lorry driver detached his cab from its burning trailer which was targeted in a suspected arson attack. The driver was in his parked vehicle on Westerby Road, South Bank, at 10pm on Thursday when he noticed smoke coming from the rear of the truck.

Pounds 500k to Pull This Eyesore Down ; Taxpayers' Bill for Demolition Soars Exhibition at Billingham

THE cost of demolishing derelict Billingham House has soared to half a million pounds for Stockton's taxpayers. Stockton Council is pressing ahead with the demolition of the former ICI headquarters despite a bid by developer Python Properties to invest pounds 5m to bring it back into use.

Choir Sings for Kids ; in Brief

I'm On Hunger Strike We're Very Worried ; Family Tells of Ex-Para's Letter From Jail

A TEESSIDE man who spent two-and-a-half years in a notorious Afghan jail before being extradited to the UK says he has gone on hunger strike. Ex-Paratrooper Anthony Malone, from Billingham, was sentenced for fraud while in the war-torn country but, despite serving the full term, was refused freedom by authorities until he paid off alleged debts of $75,000. The Gazette reported how his family launched a campaign for his release from Pul-i-Charkhi -dubbed the Afghan Alcatraz.