IT makes you wonder when you see the stupid wages and transfer fees that our top football clubs in the North-East are paying out on pampered players who often complain that they are tired after playing two games in a week.

These clubs have had very little to show for their efforts for a very long time.

The clubs that bring pride to the North-East are in the Northern League, where the players do a hard day’s work and then play in their spare time for very little money.

Northern League clubs have dominated Wembley stadium on many occasions and made the North-East very proud. Although it is a very different standard of football, the Northern League is in a class of its own.

So when the big money boys are worrying about relegation from the Premier League, let’s hope Spennymoor of the Northern League can make the North-East proud once again.

John Rusby, Bishop Auckland.