Harmison's North East love affair is crowned

One England fast bowler had barely landed in South Africa before he was tweeting about missing Sunday lunch and the X Factor. If it had been Harmison rather than Jimmy Anderson, the media clamour for him to be bundled onto the next plane home would have reached hysterical levels by now.

There is one area of Harmison's complex personality everyone understands, however - his passion for the North East. He loves Ashington, home throughout his 31 years. He loves Durham County Cricket Club, which he sees as a symbol of everything good in the region. The renowned Newcastle United fan even loves Sunderland.

The feelings are mutual. Yesterday Harmison was due to be recognised as a "North East Legend" at a ceremony in aid of The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation in Newcastle. It was postponed until April because so many who wanted to attend will be in South Africa for the tour Harmison was overlooked for, but the moniker still stands. Few will value it more highly than the Ashington Express.

"It means a hell of a lot to follow someone like Alan Shearer (last year's winner) and for it to be for Sir Bobby Robson's charity foundation in the year of his passing," says Harmison. "I feel proud and honoured. I'm not a big fan of individual awards but to be recognised by the area where you're from and you've been brought up, it means a hell of a lot."

Like many top British sportsmen, Harmison is the son of a mining town, as much a part of Ashington as the abandoned coal seams beneath it. For a town with a population of around 27,000 to have produced a double Ashes-winning cricketer, two World Cup-winning footballers in Jack and Sir Bobby Charlton, not to mention their uncle Jackie Milburn, plus a leading golfer, is impressive.

"I've no idea why it's produced so many top sportsmen," admits Harmison, whose brother Ben - a Durham all-rounder - could be next on the roll of honour. "Maybe it's because it's a working-class pit village environment where you have to really work hard to get anything out of your talent. We've produced some very, very good footballers, a few cricketers and a PGA golf professional in Ken Ferrie , who tends to get forgotten about. What Ken's achieved is something we're all proud of. He's proud of his roots and his heritage. His mam and dad still live in Ashington and he's there from time to time.

"We're all happy being in Ashington. Jack Charlton was there the other day. I was born, raised and live there. Even now there's a few kids coming through who you'd think in a few years could be great players."

Sport can be divisive but as someone born and bred in Northumberland but synonymous with County Durham knows only too well, it can bring people together too. The county champions bear Durham's name but represent the whole North East. Harmison sees his beloved Riverside as a microcosm of everything good about the region.

"It's the only place in the North East where you can have three sets of fans who will sit side by side and support the same cause," reflects Harmison, who has just signed a four-year contract with the county.

"That is something I don't think is recognised enough. We're not just for supporters of Newcastle United or just Sunderland, we have supporters from both sides sitting side by side wearing their shirt. The same two will be fighting like cat and dog maybe 48 hours after when they're watching their football clubs.

"I'm a Newcastle fan but the only thing I dislike about Sunderland is the red-and-white shirt. I've got friends who play for Sunderland, I've met the chairman Niall Quinn, who's a very, very nice man, and I've been in the company of their manager, Steve Bruce, a few times and he's a very, very nice man. It's such a great area to have a (cricket) club that takes supporters from both (football) clubs.

"We do give something back to both sets of supporters, and you can put Middlesbrough in there as well.

"We've got nearly half and half of the dressing room who are followers of Newcastle and Sunderland. There's good banter about what happens but they're all fighting for the same cause.

"Even the lads from South Africa and Australia have found a home here. That's why Durham's a success, it's taken them in as their home and they've enjoyed it."

This season's success, a County Championship title inspired by his 51 wickets, is why Harmison will only have fond memories of 2009.

"It's been a great year, full stop," he says. "Being part of an Ashes-winning team, playing one-and-a-half Test matches and to be part of Durham winning a title was special.

"The way we won the Championship was special. It sent a message that we are a force to be reckoned with. We've got a young captain and four or five good senior players who are proven performers."

Pictured: Steve Harmison plays in a charity golf match at Northumberland's Longhirst Hall

TIMELINE OF A RICH CAREER

October 23, 1978: Born in Ashington

September 1996: First-Class debut v Leicestershire. Does not take a wicket, or play again, until April 1998

1996-97: Tours Pakistan with England Under-19s

1999: Awarded Durham cap. Tours South Africa and Zimbabwe with England A

May 2000: Called into England squad to face Zimbabwe, but does not play

2000-01: Tours Australia with England Academy side including Andrew Strauss, Ian Bell and Robert Key

August 2002: Test debut v India at Trent Bridge

December 2002: First of 54 One Day Internationals (to date) against Australia in Brisbane. Named in England's World Cup squad, but does not play

October 2003: Man of the match in first Test against Bangladesh after taking 9-79 only for back injury to end his tour. Trains with Newcastle United to regain fitness while critics question attitude

March 2004: Takes 7-12 at Sabina Park as West Indies are bowled out for 47. Man of the series for 23 wickets in four Tests

August 2004: Officially ranked as the world's number one fast bowler

September 2004: Takes ODI hat-trick v India

April 2005: Becomes first Durham bowler to take a First-Class hat-trick, v Worcestershire

2005: Named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year, awarded MBE and picked for World XI in a one-off Test against Australia after England regain Ashes for first time in 18 years

July 2006: Took his first 10-wicket haul in a Test match with 11-76 at Old Trafford. The best match bowling figures at the ground since Jim Laker's 19-90, exactly 50 years earlier

November 2006: Sets unfortunate tone for England's Ashes defence by bowling first ball of series straight to captain Andrew Flintoff at second slip. England are whitewashed in the series

December 2006: Retires from ODI cricket

March 2008: Dropped by England after poor performance in Hamilton

June 2008: Takes Durham's second First-Class hat-trick, this time against Sussex

September 2008: Claims wicket which earns Durham's maiden County Championship title

August 2008: Recalled by new England captain Kevin Pietersen for fourth Test against South Africa, marking return with highest Test score (49 not out). Also comes out of ODI retirement

May 2009: Dropped again after an in-and-out tour of West Indies, only to be recalled for final two Ashes Tests of summer

September 2009: Takes wicket which earns Durham's second consecutive County Championship title. A week later claims his 400th First-Class scalp for the county

October 2009: Overlooked for tour of South Africa after his central contract was not renewed