BOOK reviews fall into two broad categories: national and local.

National ones, like Dan Brown’s or J K Rowling’s, have universal appeal and a local newspaper will review them because a wide range of readers will be interested.

Local book reviews have a link with the newspaper’s circulation area, and their interest is more focused.

So what are we doing looking at a book called A Geordie All-Rounder?

The man who helped autobiographical author Malcolm Scott is a local man, Robert Owen, and that’s one good reason.

Robert was born and grew up in Tyneside and arrived in Huddersfield in 1972 to teach at the former Huddersfield College of Education, now part of the university.

He now lives in Almondbury.

Malcolm Scott, it turns out, has many connections with Huddersfield.

“Malcolm was a natural sportsman and followed a dual career playing football for Newcastle United, Darlington and York City and cricket for Durham, Minor Counties, the RAF, Combined Services and eventually Northamptonshire County Cricket Club,” said Robert.

“It’s amazing the historical connections this new book has with the town.

“Malcolm’s cricket tutor in his teens was the Huddersfield-born Yorkshire and England cricketer Alex Coxon.

“Malcolm and he played against each other in the Durham Senior League and together for Durham County from 1953 to 1956.

“Also playing for Durham at the time was Ron Aspinall, another Huddersfield-born Yorkshire fast bowler.

“Ron lived in Almondbury and when his playing days were over he became a first class cricket umpire, meeting Malcolm on many occasions.

“Malcolm also spent 11 seasons with Northamptonshire County CC (1959-69) and during this time his playing colleagues included Bob Platt, now chairman of the Huddersfield Drakes League, and Stuart Jakeman, a well known local umpire,” said Robert.

The Huddersfield links don’t end there.

“Malcolm played 30 games for Newcastle United’s first team but it was while playing for the reserves against Huddersfield reserves in 1961 that he was got an Achilles tendon injury that finished his first team career.

“On the transfer list in 1962 he was approached by the then Town manager Eddie Boot to discuss joining the Town team.

“When Eddie found out Malcolm was going to continue to play professional cricket, he told him: ‘You can’t play two games at the same time’. Obviously Eddie had not heard of Willie Watson and (Stile Common lad) Ken Taylor.”

It’s a small world, but the world of sport appears to be even more intimate.

A Geordie All-Rounder by Malcolm Scott (An autobiography of a South Shields sportsman, with Robert Owen) £10, orders from 01484 533041.