SUNDAY league stars have been using their mobile phones to get their kicks long before Premiership copycats reportedly followed suit.

A number of The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League players regularly use their phones for reasons other than making calls and sending texts, often after a few drinks following matches, we can reveal.

"This happens all the time, " said one source. "They see this as just messing around. I've been in pubs where it happens."

In one shocking example Player A, a goalkeeper playing for a division three side, sent a mucky Abi Titmuss video to a young defender from the same club, Player B, via bluetooth. Player C, a winger, then playing for a division two club, asked Player A to send it to him, which he did.

Although no phones were placed inside boxer shorts, all three players reportedly got a buzz from the video and this behaviour is said to be rife across the league.

AS RECEPTIONS go, the one I received at Hundens Lane on Sunday was about as good as a debauched footballer's phone signal would be if they stuck their mobile down their duds while standing on Mount Everest.

My former RAC team-mates welcomed me with their usual cries of "Judas" and "traitor" - but my Copper Beech companions didn't seem pleased to see me either.

I'd been missing the week before when we beat Peladon United 5-2 in our first victory since I signed in December.

Now I was back and the lads feared the King curse could strike again.

Thankfully, against Affinity Healthcare who could field just ten men, we won 8-0. To Affinity and beyond, hopefully a better reception awaits this week.

OUR RECENT revival has also coincided with the shock departure of goalkeeper Nick 'Baros' Woodward, who slapped in a transfer request on the eve of the Peladon game. Or rather, he didn't turn up, refused to answer his phone and hasn't been seen since.

The stroppy shot-stopper, who got his nickname because of his resemblance to the Aston Villa striker, was seething after teammates questioned his performance in the recent 2-1 defeat to Brown Trout.

"I just lost interest and enjoyment of playing on a Sunday, " said Nick, who has nonetheless been linked with a move to his former club Tanners Hall.

Since his departure, we've kept only our second clean sheet of the season, conceded just two goals in two games and stand-in Alan Curry has earned rave reviews from the press. But it must be said, as manager, those reviews were written by Al himself.

SUNDAY'S win took us up to third - where we'll have to stay if we are to win promotion.

Next season will see three divisions of 11, unlike this year where two resignations on the eve of the season left Division One with just nine teams.

Barring any teams dropping out, only one team will be relegated from Divisions One and Two; three will be promoted from Divisions Two and Three; and two new sides will be brought into Division Three to make up the 33 teams. Number crunching over, but the crunch games are just beginning.

daniel. king@nne. co. uk

Published: 24/02/06