The Association played it’s last golf match of the year at Bedale Golf Club on Friday 13^th October. The fixture was first played some 8 years ago and is keenly looked forward to by both the Former Players and the Bedale Golf Club members many of whom are Sunderland AFC supporters. Find out what happened....

Match Report 

In the absence of our Association's regular Golfer's who couldnt make the day due to commitments, our team included ex Middlesbrough players Pat Cuff and Alex Smith, referees George Courteney and Ernie Burliston, Honorary Member (and the Association’s Assistant Secretary), Phillip Lowes and Honorary Member Frank Curry.

The playing format for this competition is different to our other challenge matches as each four ball is made up of two SFPA golfers and two Bedale golfers who play as a combined team.

On the day Ritchie Pitt’s team of himself, Frank Curry and Bedale members Bob Patterson and Gary Boothroyd had the highest team score (131points) with Bobby Park and George Courteney playing with Peter Durrens and Colin Baines taking the runners up spot with 129 points.

Bedale golfer Colin Baines had a great round of 41 points to narrowly take the best individual score prize from Ritchie Pitt.

The Association’s Assistant Secretary also presented the Bedale Golf Club with a signed and framed shirt to be hung in the Clubhouse.  

On behalf of the Former Players Association Winston Young thanked the Bedale members for their support in making the fixture so enjoyable and asked them to acknowledge the hard work done by Bob Patterson who had taken on the organiser’s role from his friend and colleague Dave Robinson who was recovering from a serious illness.

A great day had by all!  Here's to next year's SFPA Association Golf Days!