SUCCESS ACROSS THE BOARD

Football may be the first love in Newcastle but the sporting life of the city has impressive breadth.

Gosforth’s Vera Selby was the first ever Women’s World Snooker Champion in 1976 and was our Sports Personality when she regained her world crown in 1981.

Jenny Lee Smith was another early trailblazer for women’s sport, this time on the golf course. Our 1982 Sports Personality won the first Ladies British Open as an amateur, before turning professional and twice triumphing on the Ladies European Tour.

Few sportsmen showed more Geordie grit than British Featherweight Champion boxer John Davison. The 1992 Sports Personality was a genuine character - a late arrival to his sport who won two international belts and was a real force of nature in the ring.

Three-times Paralympic Champion Stephen Miller has been a standard bearer for the enormous progress in disability sport. His 2007 Sports Personality award was unique as it was presented jointly alongside his mother and coach Ros. Both have continued to provide expert advice on disability sport to Sport Newcastle.

The Frank Brennan Trophy has also recognised success in ice-skating with six-time British Champion Joanne Conway (1986), judo with Olympic and double World champion Diane Bell (1987), showjumping with Olympic silver-medallist Karen Straker (1989) and speedway with Newcastle Diamonds - who were Premier League winners