Lancashire FA would like to congratulate and thank the following 30 and 50 Year Long Service Award winners for their fantastic dedication to the grassroots game across Lancashire.

All of your efforts are thoroughly appreciated by the team at Lancashire FA – and the wider grassroots football community. 

Our award recipients for 2021 are listed below and please note that the below write-ups are those of the nominator and not Lancashire Football Association.

Lancashire FA will be sending out personal invites to each individual to join us for an awards evening at Lancashire FA HQ on 28 September 2021. All finer details will be provided on the invitations but if you do have any questions, please contact Lyndsay.riding@lancashirefa.com and Danielle.humber@lancashirefa.com

30 Year Awards

Graham Salisbury

"Graham Salisbury celebrates 500+ games as an EFL Referee on 9th May 2021 and has been a perfect representative of our amazing county, whilst contributing to the development of Referees across all levels. A true gentleman and defining of the word 'legend'."

Karen Phoenix

"Karen was involved in grassroots football for over 30 years, serving as a coach, referee secretary, fixtures secretary and an active member of club and league committees over the years. Mainly on the Mid Lancashire Colts and Central Lancashire Junior Football League.  

Many hundreds of children have been enabled to play football by the part she has played in her various roles. 

• Over 21 years in the Mid Lancashire Colts Junior Football Year since 2000
• Central Lancashire Junior Football League since 1997
• Coach and committee member within Lancon since 1995
• 1994 Became a FA Qualified Coach
• Setup Turbary Rangers in 1990 and coached in local schools
• PNE Ladies as player

It is with great sadness we need to inform you of the death of Karen Phoenix on Saturday 17 April 2021 at home surrounded by her loved ones.  As some of you will probably know Karen had been battling cancer heroically for nearly 5 years and we as a family thank The Rosemere centre for extending our time with her.”

Terry Lambe

"Terry started his playing career as an 18 year old goalkeeper for Clifton in the East Lancashire Football League (1982), before Playing for RHP, in the Blackburn Combination in 1984. In 1986 he joined Stop & Rest on a Saturday and played for Longshaw in the Blackburn Sunday League, Terry moved into Management with Stop & Rest until 1998 when he moved into coaching junior football with West End and Mill Hill.

Terry has worked his way through the ranks to manage Mill Hill Res then Feniscowles in the East Lancashire League, In 2016 Terry was back at Mill Hill as joint manager of Mill Hill Sundays.

Terry is also a valuable part of the Mill Hill management committee and can be seen down the ground most days tending to the pitch under his other role as Club Groundsman, the 30 year award has been well earned for Terry Lambe's dedication to grassroots football."

Paul Gregory

Paul joined the club as treasurer in early 1991. He soon took on other roles within the club. He had a season as secretary in the early 2000s but it is a chairman that he has really made his mark. He took over the that role in 2003 and he remains at the helm to this day. He made the managerial appointment in 2014 that was the catalyst for three promotions in five seasons. Never did Atherton Collieries ever think they would play in the Northern Premier League never mind the Northern Premier League Premier Division. He has guided the club coolly through the pandemic as plans for the 21/22 campaign are made.

Bryan Connett

Bryan joined the Atherton Collieries committee in early 1991 at the same time as club chairman Paul Gregory. He had just finished his illustrious career in local football where he was seen as a bit of a maverick. He has done many duties in his time including second team manager, barman, handyman and on occasions voice of reason. For the last five years Bryan has been President of the club. It’s a role he has taken on with diligence and enthusiasm.

Derek Boyden

In Derek's early football career after leaving school he played for Trinity Baptiste before moving to Bristol and Weir in the Burnley league to the early 70s. A knee injury put paid to his footballing career shortly after. He Joined Waterfoot Juniors as a founder member in 1988 and was instrumental in the upkeep of the club whilst also helping with the coaching of the children. The club formed an alliance with Rossendale United to become the junior section of the club. Derek was elected Chairman in 2005 where he remains today. At 74 Derek is still to be found weekly at our home ground; The Glen, marking out pitches and getting it ready for the forthcoming fixtures.

Arthur Jackson

Arthur became involved with Bamber Bridge Football Club around 1976/77 at the time of their amalgamation with Walton-le-Dale Football Club. He has been a committee member ever since and took on various supporting roles during that time. Arthur is now 94 years of age and up until a couple of years ago was a great supporter of the Club. He would ensure that the patio outside the Clubhouse was constantly full of flowering baskets throughout the summer months.  He is currently the President of the Club and has been so for many years.

Tony Molloy

"Tony has been a volunteer for 36 years with Bamber Bridge Football Club. He had previously played football in the Churches League with St Ignatious and St Josephs.  

Since 1980 his career has been:

1980-1983 Euxton Football Club - Preston & District League

1983-1985 Fulwood West End Football Club - Preston & District League - Assistant Manager

1985-1990 Bamber Bridge Football Club - Preston & District League - Assistant Manager

1990 - 2021 Bamber Bridge Football Club - Northern Premier League - Committee Member/ Volunteer/Kit Man"

50 Year Awards

Stephen Halliwell

"Came into grassroots football in 1971 as a secretary in the Wigan Post &Chronicle league and also as secretary of NWCFL Ashton Town.

Achieved class 1 refereeing grade covering various leagues inc Wigan Amateur, SW Lancs & Warrington Sat and Sun league.

During this early period became secretary and trustee to Ashton Athletic and later chairman. 

Also held chair positions at Wigan Robin Park and vice chairman at Ashton Town.

Joined the NWYAFL as chairman and also later took on the additional roll of treasurer. Positions currently held in addition to being secretary and general manager of Burscough football Club.

George Alexander Gill

"I have known Alex since the late 50s early 60s and we have been amateur football mad and still are, Alex is 74 next month, I am 81. Alex began as a player with Hooley Bridge in 1968 as a player. Then in 1977 injury ended his on field duties and he became manager leading the Club to the Championship of the South East Lancs League. The Club joined the Lancs and Cheshire AFL in 1981 gaining several honours and an excellent reputation on and off the pitch. 

In 1991 Alex became Club Chairman and still holds that seat! Alex spent 2005/08 managing the L& C inter league Representative Team and engaged in several annual battles against the LAL. In 2011 he served the post of President of the L&C.

Other roles with Hooley Bridge include stints as Secretary and has served many other match day duties. Alex also played a part in our Town of Heywood gaining the funds to a new Sports Centre that has proved a massive success drawing users of all ages involving many different activities.

Alex is a more than worthy candidate for the award. Currently secretary of Heywood St James AFC, Manchester Football League."

Dennis Winn

"Dennis has been involved in football for over 50 years in various positions and clubs culminating in the founding of Euxton Girls in 2002 with 12 girls, now with in excess of 300 girls across 17 teams and a successful wildcats centre. 

Dennis will be retiring as Chairman at the end of this season and it would be a fantastic to have recognition of his work in grassroots and almost 20 years of Euxton Girls FC in Lancashire and being at the Forefront of Girls Football in Lancashire."

Bill Maynard

"Bill Maynard has been involved in grassroots football from 16 years old as a coach for Mill Hill Celtic, Bill then playing with various local teams in the Blackburn Combination, and with Grunwald in 1970 which was the start of the Blackburn Sunday league. Bill then took up refereeing at 30 and spent many years in the middle of local leagues and assistant in the old Lancashire League AND The West Lancashire Football League. In 1995 he was elected on to the committee of the Blackburn Sunday Football league as Referees appointment secretary a position he held until 2007. In 2010 he took the role of fixtures secretary a position held until 2017. While on the committee of the Blackburn Sunday league Bill was asked to form a committee of the Three local leagues, namely Blackburn Combination, East Lancashire Junior Alliance, and B.S.F.L., to highlight the poor state of local authority pitches from which a local voluntary organisation formed a Business registered at Company house called East Lancashire Development Association (ELFDA) and working with the local authority identified playing fields restoration plan. The group set about getting funding from various parties and securing funding totalling £475,000 for the Restoration of Woolridge Playing fields; a total of 9 pitches from 2 full size 1 5x5, 4 7x7,2 9x9.

Bill joined Mill Hill Football club in 2012 and has served in various positions from Funding officer, Sunday Secretary, and in 2018 was elected club Chairman a position he is proud to hold presently.

Bill Maynard was a proud recipient of 30 year long service medal in 2013. We are proud to Nominate Bill Maynard for the 50 year award."

Chris Shufflebottom

Chris left school and began is adult playing career straight away playing for a number of clubs including Whitworth, Johnrows, Stacksteads and Irwell.  He would juggle his work around to make sure he got as many games in as he could.  An injury ended his playing career at the age of 35.  In 1988 he went to Waterfoot Juniors (which is now Rossendale United Juniors) to help with the maintenance of the junior pitches which at that point were just a farmers field. He acquired equipment over the years including a tractor, splitter, quadrapla and earthquaker and improved his knowledge with various courses on pitch maintenance.  He also signed the club up to the FA pitch maintenance programme to improve the facility. Now at the age of 70 Chris is still maintaining the pitches at The Glen and on their day they are among the best surfaces I’ve seen at this level.  An irreplaceable stalwart Chris is.

George Halliwell

"George Halliwell has been involved with the Lancashire Football Association since 1965 when he played for Walton le Dale FC in the Preston & District League.

His footballing career is:

1965-1974     Walton le Dale FC, Preston & District League - Player

1974-1980      Bamber Bridge FC, Preston & District League - Player

1980-1983      Euxton FC, Preston & District League - Player/Manager 

1983-1985      Fulwood West End FC, Preston & District League - Player/Manager

1985-1990      Bamber Bridge FC, Preston & District League - Manager

1990-2021      Bamber Bridge FC, Northern Premier League - Match Day Secretary, Football Secretary, Director of Football, Trustee.

George is currently the Director of Football and has been a Trustee of the Club for many years."

David Spencer

"David Spencer has been associated with Bamber Bridge Football Club for 47 years. Prior to that he has played in the Conference League with two different clubs as well as the Lancashire Combination League. He is currently the Vice-Chairman of Bamber Bridge Football Club.

His footballing career is listed below:

1967-1968  Freckleton FC  - West Lancashire League - Player

1968            Ribbleton Parish FC  - Preston & District League - Player

1968-1969  Greenbank Celtic FC - Preston & District League - Player

1969-1970   Fleetwood Town FC - Conference League - Player

1970-1971   Chorley FC - Conference League - Contract Player

1971-1974   Leyland Motors FC - Lancashire Combination - Player

1974-1984   Bamber Bridge FC - Preston & District League - Player

1984-1985   Bamber Bridge FC - Preston & District League  to Northern Premier League - Player/Manager (reserves)

1986              Bamber Bridge FC - Preston & District League  to Northern Premier League - 1st Team Manager

1987 -1988   Bamber Bridge FC - Northern Premier League - Football Secretary and Committee Member

1988 - 2021   Bamber Bridge FC -Northern Premier League - During this time Dave has undertaken the roles of Committee Member, Chairman and is currently the Vice Chairman of the Club.  Dave is also an active sponsor of the Club."