A well-deserved award has been presented to Haddenham resident, Andy Hardy, marking forty years service to schools' football.
The engraved trophy was received by Andy at the recent AGM of the Aylesbury Vale Primary Schools' Football Association. David Woollaston, a representative from the English Schools' FA and Mark Sturgeon, Head of Aylesbury Grammar School and Secretary of the South England SFA congratulated and praised Andy for his unstinting commitment to schools' football over the years.
Andy has run school football teams throughout his teaching career, and organised matches at county level in the South of England. He has held the posts of Hon.Sec. for High Wycombe and District Schools' FA and Bucks SFA; Chairman of both Aylesbury Vale PSFA and the South East England SFA; manager of two county teams and he is currently President of Aylesbury PSFA, attending matches and presenting cups at finals.
Thanking everyone at the meeting, Andy spoke of the 'highs and lows'.
He was privileged to lead the ball boys on to the pitch at Wembley Stadium for an international match; and, in 1981, he saw the only goal scored by Wycombe boys when they won the ESFA Trophy Final against Sunderland SFA.
On another occasion, lack of adult help saw him managing a side whilst at the same time selling programmes, sorting out match officials and collecting sausage and chips for the boys from the local fish fryer!
There are many more tales he could tell from his experiences.
Closing the meeting, David Woollaston encouraged the young teachers present to follow Andy's example and become involved at both district and county levels to inspire and train the young footballers of the future.
