A CUP final-winning goalkeeper who had the game of his life at Wembley met a former foe from the match at a surprise 90th birthday party.

Jack Snowdon won the FA Amateur Cup Final with Willington with a man-of-the-match display against Bishop Auckland in front of 87,000 fans in 1950.

Mr Snowdon, whose birthday is on Christmas Day, is the only living member of the Willington team which won 4-0.

He celebrated his birthday on Saturday (December 20) in Shildon with friends.

Amongst the guests was Frank Palmer, the only surviving member of the losing finalists Bishop Auckland.

Fellow former Northern League players from the 1950s Roy Snowball and Jimmy McMillan could not attend the party but they sent messages.

Mr Snowdon said: “I was overwhelmed by the party and it was a very memorable occasion. It was a complete surprise and a very enjoyable and it took me back so many years.

“It was very nostalgic especially when I saw Frank Palmer who was up against me in the cup final. I even joked to Frank about the two of us holding a penalty shoot out.

“The cup final was the game of my life. We weren’t nervous of the occasion.

“At Wembley the crowd was just a grey mass as they were so far away. At some Northern League grounds the crowd was so close you could hear them shouting.”

Mr Snowdon’s performance on the day saw earned the nickname the Human Spider.

Injury later stopped him from playing for the England Amateur team but he has been both president and vice-chairman of the Willington club.

He was conscripted into the Army aged 18 in 1943 and served for two years.

He joined the 704th Artisan Works Company of the Royal Engineers and helped to build bridges and clear mines during spells in France, Holland and Belgium.

Mr Snowdon had several jobs upon leaving the military including being Wear Valley’s chief planning officer until his retirement in 1980.

Stewart Smith, the son of Mr Snowdon’s brother, from Middridge, near Shildon, said: “The 1950 cup final is important to Jack and he enjoys talking about it. He doesn’t want it to be forgotten.

“The cup final was pretty much the North-East’s day out and every footballer has the game of their life and that was Jack’s.”

Some of Mr Snowdon’s family were able to travel to the party from Hertfordshire and Mike Amos, chairman of the Northern League, was also there.

The Durham Amateur Football Trust also put up a display of Mr Snowdon’s football exploits for the party.