Fitting tribute for long service for Nomads soccer legend

Cheadle Heath Nomads FC, who play in the North West Counties League division one South, have been in existence for over 100 years playing in the Lancashire and Cheshire AFL for many years before moving up to the North West Counties FL.

Stuart Holt from Cheshire FA presents Roy with the FA Award.

The Nomads enjoyed a great tribute day for their long-serving legend Roy Welsh with current club members and friends and many of his former playing colleagues in attendance to pay tribute to Roy for the time, effort and skills he has brought to his beloved club for the past 60 years.

Roy joined Nomads as a player in 1963 and in a playing career of 25 years he made over 400 appearances for the club scoring 250 goals.

Roy – Sixty Years a Nomad

During that time he played for the L and C Inter League on four occasions and he proudly held the post of L&C President in the 1985-6 season. After hanging up his boots Roy joined the backroom staff at Nomads undertaking numerous roles including the important offices of Treasurer and Secretary.

Since becoming the club President Roy has been the driving force behind the club’s elevation to the North West Counties League, guiding the club through its complex planning negotiations with Stockport Council as well as dealing with the FA and other bodies regarding funding.

Roy’s diligent work is there for anyone to see visiting the club’s magnificent facilities and is now one of the finest venues in the League.

Although at the age of 80 and celebrating 60 years of service to the club he is certainly not resting on his laurels.

Roy is currently heavily involved in the massive refurbishment of the clubhouse as well as the construction of a brand new hospitality suite adjacent to the changing rooms.

Roy was presented with a Certificate of Recognition for his fantastic loyal service by Cheshire County FA. His remarkable service was recognised by the Cheshire FA with a special presentation. Nomads Chairman, George Gibbons, also presented him with a specially commissioned cap in the club’s claret & blue colours.

Top Award for Denton Soccer Legend

GEOFF Gable has been involved in amateur soccer in many roles for the best part of 60 years, most of it in the Lancashire and Cheshire AFL and he is delighted to have received due recognition for his services.

Geoff, who has been heavily involved in the development and success of Denton Town, said: “At the clubs AGM under AOB I was overwhelmed when our Vice President Phil Bentley read out a letter from Mark Bullingham the CEO of the FA announcing that I was being presented with the FA’s ‘Long Service to Football Award’.

Geoff Gable

“I first played for Bradford Parish playing in the L and C, (now Denton Town) in 1961 and have been a club member with unbroken service ever since, having played for the club I achieved selection to the inter league team.

 “Bradford Parish played at various venues until finding a permanent home at Mellands PF in Gorton.

“I joined the committee in 1992 became Chairman in 1996 and now hold the position of President.

 “The club were members of the Lancashire and Cheshire FL and after the end of my playing days I had the honour of being asked to become President of the league and after my year in office I joined the management committee and spent many happy years helping run one of the biggest amateur leagues in the country.

“They were great years, great memories and I made lifelong friends,

“In the early 1990s rumours were rife that Mellands was going to be built on, so a desperate search began for a new home and after great work by the then very small four-man committee we secured the lease for Whittles Park Denton.

“Because the move would relocate the club to Denton it was decided that, to become associated with the local community and make the ‘massive decision’ to apply to another league.

“With my background in the L and C it was huge decision for me personally, but the L and C committee were brilliant they endorsed our application to the Cheshire Football League so the next chapter began.

“Joining the Cheshire League was an eye opener to say the least as in the L and C our longest round trip to an away game was probably 30 miles this jumped to about 120 miles, but after three years in the league we gained promotion to the premier division this unfortunately only lasted two years before relegation back to the first division, however after a new first eleven management team came in we have regained premier division status for the 23/24 season.

“My time in football like all involved in this fantastic game has been filled with great highs and heartbreaking lows but I don’t regret a moment.

“The fact that my small contribution has been rewarded by this award is something that I can’t put into words, there are so many people

out there, men and women doing what I have done week in week out.

“All I can say to you is keep doing it because the game at our level won’t survive without you and with that in mind can I issue a heartfelt plea to anyone with any interest in the game to think about your local amateur club and think about joining them.

“I know good footballers are hard to find but sometimes committee persons are impossible to find.

“Thanks for all the fantastic messages of congratulations and good wishes I have received and thanks to the FA for this unbelievable award.”

Brian Stringer RIP

The League is sad to announce the death of former President and League Treasurer Brian Stringer. Brian first appeared for Bradford Parish (now Denton Town) in 1950 and was a permanent member of their very successful first team throughout the fifties, including the winning of the Lancashire Amateur Cup in 1952-53. He became the club secretary for fourteen years from 1963-77 and continued to serve on the club committee thereafter. He was elected League President for the 1988-89 season and then accepted the invitation to manage the League’s finances for the next few years. He was a mainstay of his club for several decades and our thoughts are with his family and friends.

Emotional reunion at Didsbury FC

MANY club and league legends enjoyed a great day at Didsbury FC with ‘old’ boys from Burnage HSOB, Metro FC, Burnage Metro and Didsbury at a match played in memory of some club heroes.

The main organiser was Mal Maginn, a former President of the L & C,  who has been involved in the club for the best part of 50 years and also played in the game before pulling several muscles that he never knew he had forcing an early exit from the game.

Mal said: “The main purpose of the event was in memory of Ross Fowler- the son of my schoolmate Stuart Fowler and both played for the Burnage HSOB for many years.

“Ross sadly died in December 2019 in Colorado but the planned event was prevented by Covid until the recent lifting of some restrictions.

“It was also in memory of Mick Marchington, who also played for Burnage HSOB and sadly died recently when walking in the Peak District and other Old Boys no longer with us.

“Paul and his son Chester videoed the game and other events on the day which I will forward to Ross Fowler’s wife Ann and the kinds in the US and also to Mick’s wife Lorren.”

There was a great attendance of former players watching the game and enjoying refreshments and the presentation outside their splendid clubhouse after the game and it was good to see Mo Perkins back in action with a superb performance running the line in his inimitable style.

The trophy was presented to Alistair Fowler, brother of Ross by L & C league committee member Keith Marsden.

Burnage HSOB was founded in 1938 and has played for many years at Didsbury Sports Club.

They initially played in the Lancashire Amateur FL before joining the L & C in 1999.

Metro FC was founded in 1982 and switched from the Stockport League to the L & C in 1992.

The two clubs merged in 2002 to form Burnage Metro and subsequently changed their name to Didsbury FC and was joined by three senior teams from Chorltonians in 2020.

Bury Ams celebrate their centenary

WHILE the Lancashire and Cheshire AFL, along with other grassroots leagues, is waiting with bated breath for the roadmap back into local outdoor sport and have plans in place to cope with whatever time they are given for a restart, it gives the league the chance to outline the distinguished history of one of its clubs about to celebrate their centenary.

By Phil Savill – Vice Chair, Secretary, Third Team Manager, U12 Manager, U7 Manager

Bury Amateurs FC will celebrate the club’s centenary on February 28th.

In the Secretary’s minutes record, 18 members attended a meeting at the Derby Hotel in the centre of Bury (now demolished) and passed the resolution ‘That an Association Football Club be formed and application be made for membership to the Lancashire Amateur League’. The members seemed to find some difficulty in agreeing a name for the newly formed club and the discussion of the topic had to be suspended but later in the evening a proposal suggesting the title BURY AMATEUR ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL CLUB was carried. Despite the use of the singular word ‘amateur’ the Club is often referred to as Bury Amateurs.

For their first ever season in 1921 a ground was acquired at the old Golf Links on Manchester Road but only rented and not purchased. The failure not to purchase a suitable ground in the earlier years of existence of the Club would be felt in later years. A substantial number of members felt that the future lay in becoming the Football Section of the well-equipped and organised Bury Sports Club and approaches were made. The two merged in 1925 but it was not to be a happy partnership. Even so, the arrangement lasted until 1934 when a new ground was sought off Manchester Road in Redvales, Bury.

The split with Bury Sports Club was due to the success of Bury Amateurs on the field, they naturally wanted to be independent of the Bury Sports Club but yet still an integral part of the host set-up. After three seasons settling in, Bury Amateur A.F.C. took over the Central Section (virtually the L.A.L. until 1929). Season 1923-24 saw them pick up the Division 1 and 2 titles and they repeated their success in the following 1924-25 and 1925-26 seasons.

Lancashire Amateur League Clubs often entered the Lancashire Football Association Cup but with rare success. Quite often the cup ended up on Merseyside and being drawn against a Liverpool side usually signalled a short campaign. In 1926 and with the Championship side enjoying league success Bury Amateurs did well to draw with the holders from Liverpool, Marine F.C. Unfortunately, Bury went on to lose the replay 9-1.

The following year saw an amazing goalscoring feat. Amateurs’ player Norman Tattersall, playing for Lancashire against Birmingham hit seven, an amateur record at the time. The result 10-2 to the Red Rose County must have been very satisfying and particularly to the Bury player who notched the goals. Entries in The Lancashire Evening Post said: ‘Within just one minute of the start of the game at Deepdale, Tattersall had scored two goals and completed his hat-trick in a mere two and a quarter minutes. What a way to start a game!’

Another newspaper article told the story of a supreme triumph. The year was 1929 and the Manchester Guardian allocated no less than 16 column inches and a photograph, reporting the Lancashire Amateur Cup Final played between Bury Amateurs and Liverpool opponents Collegiate Old Boys. The report was written in true guardian style and makes wonderful reading. Most important of all of course was the result, a 3-1 victory for Bury despite having gone one behind after only six minutes. It is hard to imagine but the final generated such interest that 2,000 people turned up to watch.

1936 found the Club yet again on its travels and this time the Warth Riverside Ground became home. Lying as it did between the River Irwell and the Bury-Manchester electrified railway, a hefty clearance out of play meant either the ball floated away down the river or somebody dicing with death retrieving it from the lethal live third rail. During this pre-WW2 period the Club had the fortune to have services of an outstanding goalkeeper, Ken Whitehead. Such was his talent that on three occasions he wore the much coveted keepers jersey for the England Amateur International XI, all were victories including a 5-2 victory over Wales at Whaddon Road in Cheltenham on 28 January 1939.

The disruption caused by WW2 took time to clear but the Club picked up two immediate post-war honours, winning the combined section in season 1945-46 and the Central Section Championship in 1947-48.

In 1955, Ammies player Francis Adams, left the club to sign for Bury FC going onto make 169 appearances for The Shakers between 1955 and 1963. He missed only three games in Bury’s Third Division championship season of 1960-61, the most successful in the club’s history in terms of goals scored and points gained. In 1958 Adams was involved in controversy when playing for Bury against Chester in the FA Cup second round. With Chester leading 1–0 in the closing minutes, their player Norman Bullock was brought down in the area with play stopping as the linesman flagged for a penalty. However, Adams picked up the ball and punted it forward and, with the ref deciding to play on, set up a late equaliser for Bury, who went on to earn an attractive tie with Arsenal in the third round after beating Chester in the replay.

The early 1960s found a young 20-year-old left-winger working his way through the lower teams until he reached the first XI. His footballing ability was reasonable but his speed phenomenal. So quick in fact that encouraged by the local athletic club, he gave up soccer and took up sprinting. Despite very poor local athletic facilities Barrie Kelly reached the top and represented his country at the 1968 Olympics held in Mexico. For several years he held the European 60 metres Indoor Record. Pity he didn’t stick at football he may have helped the Ammies out of what had become a very barren spell in terms of success.

Season 1965-66 found the Club without their ground. An adjacent paint manufacturing company needed further room to expand their business and the two football pitches through the railway arch suited them ideally. Fortunately at the time, Bury was the base for the Lancashire Fusiliers Regiment. Often the barracks were empty but were maintained for when the Regiment returned from their duties in overseas. The facilities included a large playing field, changing accommodation and a large gymnasium. With the softening of the Cold War the barracks came under control of the local authority and sadly what were superb facilities deteriorated badly. Despite the disappointments a period of success was on the horizon.

Promotion to Division 1 was followed by immediate relegation and made for a mixed start to the 1980s. On the recommendation of The Lancashire F.A., Amateurs appointed their first ever Manager / Coach. With team matters now in the hands of one person as opposed to a Committee, the club was on the road to revival. The all-round improvement brought to the Club soon showed itself and in season 1984-85 the club finished with both the Premiership title and the L.A.L 1st XI’s Challenge Cup. A third Premiership title followed and a further taking of the 1st XI’s Challenge Cup made for a satisfactory end to the 1989-90 season.

The 1990s saw the break up of the successful 80s side as players were cherry-picked by clubs offering a higher standard of football. Even though the Amateurs had to dig deep to keep going they always turned out a first and reserve team week in, week out, mainly through the hard work of stalwarts such as Nick Kingston, Mike McMahon, Milton Colman, Roy Lindon and Pete Holden.

In the early years of the new millennium, the hardcore of players and particularly Glyn Haslam as manager, secretary and treasurer (along with his wife Geraldine), coupled with the return of several ex-players, stabilised the club. The long-term future of the club was secured with the amalgamation with Prestwich-based junior club, Drinkwater Warriors. The Club continues into its 100th year and prides itself on the ethos of the club to provide football for all. The Club currently field sides in The Lancashire and Cheshire AFL, NBJFL and BBDFL and despite the testing times currently, the committee are working hard in an effort to secure that football for all for another 100 years.

Bedians on the up

BEDIANS are one of the oldest clubs in the Lancashire and Cheshire AFL being founded as Old Bedians in 1928 then in 1930/31 moving to the L & C and playing two teams in the junior division of the L & C and two senior teams the following season for former students of St Bedes College.

They played originally at St Bedes College, then Hough End in 1933 and 30 years later moved the LAL as the L & C could not accommodate their five teams.

Bedians stayed in the LAL until 1978 and under the guidance of Ged Lee and Nick Murphy enjoyed a successful era.

They moved to their present site at Underbank Farm in 1965 sharing the facilities with Old Bedians RUFC and by then had scrapped the rule that all players had to ex Bedians students and rejoined the L & C in 1978, fielding four teams who all enjoyed excellent cup and league success for many years.

A serious fire in the clubhouse saw it rebuilt in its present excellent facility and opened in 1993 with Keith Marsden a big mover in its development.

The club also hosted cup finals and Inter League games during this golden period in its history.

But as with many football and other sports clubs changing social attitudes saw the club’s teams reduced over recent years and it is now down to one team, playing mainly in division two in recent seasons.

But under the enthusiastic guidance of Rob O’Connor Bedians are rebuilding and looking to get back to their former glory years.

Rob said: “Over the last few years we have rebuilt our infrastructure, squad, invested in our equipment, pitches and facilities to ensure our future and reach our centenary in 2028/29.

“The squad is well balanced with a good blend of youth and experience that can develop into a very good team over the next few years.

“We are working with the football foundation on a number of fronts at the moment and have received three grants recently for the Pitch Preparation towards maintaining both our pitches in readiness for season 20/21, plus the Club Preparation for hand sanitising dispensers, deep cleans, signage and other costs associated towards making a safe environment due to COVID 19 and our final payment for Stay in the Game, additionally we are in conversation with Lancashire FA and football foundation to enclose our playing area and update our showers and changing area.

“Due to Covid 19 and the first national lock down we had a great turnout at pre-season training and trained up to three times a week prior to friendlies starting, many thanks to Sam Seasay our coach and assistant manager for taking the sessions, this helped creating a stronger club spirit also helped players being more engaged with our club and an appreciation of the facilities at Old Bedians Sports Centre.

“This has led to us now having a strong committee of players who help out, with cutting marking and maintaining the pitches which is very time consuming especially over the summer growing season when the pitches need cutting every five days.

“We have had a few working parties down at the club cutting the brambles, bushes and tidying up the surrounding areas of the pitches, we actually hired a mini digger for a number of days to assist with this process, we retrieved 15 footballs doing this task, we also have a media manager Liam Hargreaves and he has designed our own website please check it out -https://bediansafc.wixsite.com/home, which is updated regularly when in normal times also we have regular updates on Twitter, Facebook, Google and Instagram.

“We also have a club sponsor SGC Civil Engineering who have bought us two kits and have advertising around the pitch and donated a fantastic raffle prize season 2019 of four executive seats and a meal at Old Trafford for a home fixture over the Christmas holidays, unfortunately this season due to restrictions we could not replicate.

“We have now had a donation from one of our players of a pool table which will be recovered also have purchased a few new TV’s to keep players at the club after the game all players receive a club Polo Shirt and Tracksuit top for match days.

 “For the future -We have started a project with Cheadle and Gatley Junior football club who have 53 teams and over 650 members to play junior football which we hope will lead these children into adult football on Saturday at present we have an under-13s and 15s team at Bedians, C&G JFC  have invested in two new sets of goalposts for junior and adult football and the aim is to become a strategic partner and have teams playing Saturday and Sunday at Bedians to continue the investment in the facility and continue the journey into the coming decades.

“We are always looking for new players from the local community however we have people from all over Manchester, Julian Patterson who has played for Bedians since he was 16 -I won’t tell you how old he is now but he is still the fastest player in the club and travels from Stone in Staffordshire for all games and training, everybody is given a warm welcome and asked to join us for a drink in normal times.

“We have some great nights out and our Christmas night out is well attended every year, with players from past and present, we are a very diverse bunch from different cultures and backgrounds that work in different businesses from Banking, Recruitment, Building trades, Retail, teaching, an Osteopath and too many other fields to mention are only criteria is everyone has to get on and enjoy themselves.

“Our biggest drawback is funding as we own our own ground and have to pay for its upkeep and maintenance it is an expensive place to play sport and before a ball is kicked in anger it costs us about £6,000.00 before a ball is kicked to pay for pitch repairs, marking and contributions to the sport centre, we are always looking for sponsors and volunteers if you are interested please get in touch through our website and we will get back to you asap.”

AFC Oldham look to continue their success

With grassroots football currently on hold because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the L&C are profiling its member clubs. This week, Andy Rowlandson, Development Officer at AFC Oldham, talks about the club’s history and its journey to the present day.

AFC Oldham have been in the Lancashire & Cheshire AFL since we were formed in 2005, prior to that our open age section ran as Clarksfield St. Edwards who had joined the league back in 1986.

At the time of our inclusion, the club was primarily run by one man, the late Bob Rowlandson.  Bob had held every position that was possible at the club and was the current club secretary, treasurer, discipline officer etc.

This continued until 2005 when Clarksfield St. Edwards merged with Oldham Teachers and Littlemoor Juniors to form AFC Oldham. This brought many new players in and some helping hands to join our newly formed committee. 16 years on and a few of those are still at the club doing a great job, Jimmy and Teresa Smith, Ross Elliott and myself.

The club started with three open age teams and they were placed appropriately throughout the league. Over the next few seasons, the teams held their own in their respective divisions, with our first success coming in 2007-2008 when our third team won the Division E Title. This was followed by our first team winning the Rhodes Cup in 2012-2013, with another taste of success for our thirdteam in 2017-2018, winning the Hellawell Shield.

We were also recipients of the league’s Fair Play Award in 2018-2019.

In 2014-2015 our high flying first team finished Runners Up in the Premier Division, but unfortunately, several players were causing major problems within the club.

The executive committee decided, for a variety of reasons, that a change was needed and removed the complete first team and management set up. Ross Elliott (then third team manager) and our third team, stepped up to play as our first  team in the 2015-16 season, finishing bottom of Division two.

Over the next few years, Ross developed and improved the first team, establishing them in Division one and Andy Steel joined him at the helm in the summer of 2019.

In March 2020 our first team were top of Division one and unbeaten all season, but with just three games left, the season was curtailed due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and any celebratory plans were cancelled.

Despite this setback, the club were promoted back to the Premier Division and as I write this, we currently sit joint second in the table.

Again, we may miss out on the possibility of silverware due to the season of 2020-2021 being ended early again because of this awful ongoing pandemic. But in my eyes, it is a team capable in of winning the Premier Division very soon.

Alongside myself, Ross, Jimmy and Teresa we have introduced new committee members over the years who have helped build and develop AFC Oldham – Peter Bird came in as Club Chairman and now Club President, and despite his years, he has helped steer the club in the right direction.

Andy Steel came in as second team manager and showed immediate success off the field as he was awarded Volunteer of the Year awards for Oldham and Greater Manchester in 2018. Andy also took over our Ladies team and guided them to the semi-finals of the MFA County Cup last season.

There are many more people at the club I could name who have helped make this club what it is today and I would like to thank them all for the hard work they have put in over the years and for the many years to come.

Club Tributes to Dave King

Received in response to the sad announcement earlier this week

I’m genuinely saddened to hear of Dave King’s passing. Horrible news; I always found him to be such a lovely fella. Please pass on mine and Sandra’s condolences. He was a gentleman, a great servant to the league and very much appreciated by myself and Sandra. His work in organising the league dinners was fantastic and it was always good to see him at Chorltonians. I’ll miss having a pint and a chat with him. Tony McNicholls, Chorltonians FC

Just seen the sad news regarding Dave. Your tributes to him in the email were obviously very heartfelt. I have fond memories of Dave from your visits to Parrswood games, I recall he liked the odd cigar. Steve Taylor, Parrswood Celtic FC.

So sorry to read the obituary for Dave King – I can only endorse all the acknowledgements and compliments for him. Dave was always so warm and friendly whenever I spoke with him at meetings, matches and presentations of course which he organised superbly. Our members will be sad to hear of his passing so on behalf of all who knew him at Rochdalians our condolences to his family and friends. Mark Wilson, Rochdalians A F C.

Nice tribute, Dave Jameson Spurley Hey FC

Just read about Dave King. Sad news. A really nice fella who worked hard for the league and football in general. A random memory I have is from the league dinners some years back (at Edgeley Park). I remember him wondering around chatting with people followed by big puffs of cigar smoke which he kept wafting away when they built up too much. A strange memory – but one that makes me smile nonetheless. Sorry for your loss gents & take care. Jack Norbury Govan Athletic Football Club.

My sadness about the news of Dave King, who always had time for a chat, I thought he was one of the really nice guys. Please pass on the thoughts of our club to Dave’s family. Peter Bird AFC Oldham.

That’s terrible news, I always remember Dave with great affection. I never thought the last time I would see him would be meeting him in Urmston to hand a trophy back, lovely man. Phil Bower Irlam Steel.

Dave King passes away

The Lancashire & Cheshire AFL is saddened to learn that Dave King has passed away at the age of 80.

Dave was one of the most well-known and well-respected members of the L&C community and dedicated more than 60 years of his life to amateur football.

Mike Yates, Chairman of the L&C, paid his own personal tribute: “Dave’s love of football shone throughout his life – as a player, manager, referee and administrator. His knowledge of the game was invaluable in shaping league policy and decision making.

“He will be greatly missed for this, but also for his friendship and popularity within the league committee and the wider L&C league.”

His love affair with the L&C began in 1958 when he joined Aldermere, and he played a remarkable 690 games for the club over a 36-year period. His versatility was obvious given the fact he played in every position for the club. He also held the post as Chairman and ‘held the club together on occasions’. It’s no surprise that he was known as “Mr Aldermere” by many.

Dave’s playing days were curtailed when he broke his leg in a game against Moston Brook, but his versatility and commitment to the league saw him thrive in other roles. Firstly, as a referee for many years. During that time, he gained a notable reputation, as fellow committee member and friend Graham Ellis explained.

He said: “There are various comments from match sheets about Dave King the referee. One said ‘the referee Dave King arrived late after struggling through traffic……and we really wish he hadn’t!’”

It highlights the respect he commanded, but also the high regard he was held in. Graham joined the committee as a result of Dave’s influence in a friendship that lasted for decades.

“Dave will be sadly missed for his football enthusiasm, his warmth, humour, his diligent work, and refereeing experiences.”

He was a vital part of the league committee for many years; during that time, Dave played a key role in all aspects of the league’s business. This included a year as President in 1994-95, and subsequently he was a staple part of the league management committee.

His ‘true vocation’, as explained by John Howard, was his role in organising the L&C’s annual presentation dinner, which is regularly attended by more than 300 guests.

John said: “The work was concentrated over a short period towards the end of the season and required the patience and charm that Dave was renowned for displaying.”

“Grassroots football has prospered over many years and the fact the L&C is now in its 112^th season bears witness to the selfless work conducted by so many people over this time.

“Dave has been one of those that has ensured the aims of the original group of league founders have been maintained.

“It has been a pleasure to have known and worked with Dave over the years and I know he will be sadly missed by all his many friends in the game.”

These warm words have been echoed by many paying their own personal tributes. A common theme emerges – one of a man who enjoyed what he did, was a pleasure to work alongside, a character whose presence everybody enjoyed, a gentleman, a man of humour who was the first to offer help, a popular presence, a person who was respected by all, and more than anything, someone who was a pleasure to know.

Geoff Garnett and Dave both began playing in the 1950s and joined the league management committee in the 1980s, at which time they got to know each other very well. Geoff describes a man who was “totally respected by clubs and their officials for his knowledge and willingness to help where needed.”

Geoff added: “His hard work, dedication, knowledge and experience was a vital asset to the league committee. There are so many happy memories I can remember sharing with Dave but the abiding ones are that he was a true legend of amateur football, never afraid to share his wisdom to benefit others.

“It was a pleasure to know Dave.”

The willingness to help is apparent in Keith Marsden’s tribute to Dave, who he described as “an unassuming type whose value to his club and the league cannot be overstated.

“At committee meetings, whenever something needed doing, he was always the first to say: ‘I can give you a hand with that’ and he certainly put tremendous efforts into organising the Annual Dinner over many years.”

Current League Secretary, Brian Davies, first met Dave in the 1990s and got to know him well because of the role of organising the Annual Dinner.

He said: “We worked closely over the final months of the season and that was always a pleasure with his friendly approach. As the date neared, Dave would make a couple of hundred phone calls to finalise the numbers and a small team ensured it all came together on the night.

“A character who will be missed by all those who knew him.”

This contribution to amateur football was recognised in 2018 at the Manchester FA Awards dinner, when Dave was presented with the Frank Hannah Lifetime Achievement Award. This was “richly deserved as his voluntary football work was simply outstanding,” Keith Marsden said, whilst Geoff Garnett described it as “fitting recognition” of his services to the amateur game.

Dave’s indelible mark will forever be imprinted within the L&C’s rich history and his legacy will endure in refereeing standards, the way the Annual Dinner is organised, and commitment necessary to make sure grassroots football thrives.

But more than anything, we mourn a “great guy who will be sadly missed,” according to LAL League Secretary Peter Duffy, and somebody who Malcom Kershaw described as “a true gent and a smashing fella.”

Everybody at the L&C is honoured to have known Dave King, and we extend our deepest condolences to his friends and family.

A Tribute to Jim Edmundson

A Tribute to Jim Edmondson

By Keith Marsden

In the 1980’s we were frequently short of referees and so Jim, who was the League’s Referees Secretary, would often call on me to fill in at my club Bedians. The phone would go on Saturday morning, my daughter would answer it and then shout “It’s for you, Dad. It’s that man with the laugh” and I knew it was Jim. A very appropriate description of a lovely man.

His work as Referees Secretary was nothing short of amazing as there was no software to help him, no Internet, no email. He and his wife Margaret used to spend lots of hours on a Sunday assigning referees to matches and then handwriting postcards to all the referees and clubs informing them of the next Saturday’s appointments. His phone line was extremely busy too but there was never anything other than a cheerful answer, no matter what problem he was confronted with. Jim also kept huge ledgers recording the details of all the appointments and the marks awarded to referees for every game. These are now stored with the League’s historical records in Stockport Heritage Library.

Jim was my predecessor as League Chairman and once told me that he would be glad when I took over as he regarded himself as a “backroom boy”. That is a complete understatement and Stoconians know only too well of his immense contribution over so many years. His pots of tea at Hillcrest Road were legendary and he was a regular attendee at the Annual Dinner well into his nineties.  “The man with the laugh” will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Well known by all the current league committee and many club officials, Jim was an outstanding, dedicated servant to both club and league, and his legacy are the many successors following him to keep this wonderful game thriving.