THERE was a poignant moment for a well-known Guisborough footballing family at half time in the North Riding Senior Cup match between the Priorymen and Whinney Banks at the KGV last week.

For an individual North Riding Senior Cup winners’ trophy - originally presented to former Guisborough Town player Bryan Hodgson who died in a car crash many years ago – was touchingly reunited with Brian’s close family.

The trophy was discovered via eBay in Scarborough by Guisborough-born Jason Ashley, a roofing contractor now living in Eaglescliffe. The trophy, bearing Brian’s name, was from the 1976 North Riding County Cup Final won that year by Guisborough when they beat Smith’s Dock 1-0 at South Bank.

So Jason approached Guisborough Town whose officials realised the sentimental history behind the trophy and contact was made with the late Brian’s family and at half-time at the Whinney Banks game on Wednesday it was presented back to the members of the Hodgson family by Jason.

The trophy was accepted on behalf of the rest of the family by Bryan’s sister Collette Comballack and Bryan’s younger brother Neil – who followed in his brother’s footsteps to play for Guisborough with distinction for many seasons.

Don Cowan, Chairman of the Guisborough Town Management Committee, said: “The Hodgson family are footballing legends in Guisborough, and when Jason approached us about the trophy he’d tracked down we soon realised its sentimental significance. So we got in touch with Neil Hodgson and the family agreed to come along to the Clubhouse tonight to accept the trophy back.

“It was a very touching gesture by Jason and we are very grateful that he took the time to get in touch with us when he realised what he had found on eBay was of such importance to the Hodgson family. We as a family friendly club, of course, were delighted to facilitate making this wonderful gesture happen."