Derek Stokes' ultimate reward at St Martins

Shropshire football's ultimate one-club-man has been recognised by the Football Association.

Derek Stokes has been at St Martins since 1952 and was incredibly playing regularly after his 60th birthday for the Oswestry villagers.

He has spent 43 years as treasurer and secretary at the club, who now ply their trade in the West Midlands League.

A special party was staged to mark Stokes' lifetime commitment to the club where the stalwart received two medals and a letter of recognition from the English FA.

"I have been with the club for 59 years and when I first joined in 1952, it was as a 14-year-old playing in the Oswestry Minor League," said Stokes, who is now 72 and has no intention of retiring just yet.

Loved

"We then played in the Whitchurch League and then, from the mid 1970s, in the Shropshire Alliance.

"I started off as a wing half then moved to centre half and I think my last appearance was as a sub when I was either 62 or 63.

"I played more than 1,200 games and we won more than 120 trophies - not all winners mind, a lot were for being runners-up. I loved every minute of it"

Stokes' stunning on-pitch exploits were matched by his services off the pitch.

"It was the 1968 AGM and Doug Leach stepped down as treasurer through illness and Cecil Rogers left as secretary," he added.

"I said I would take the two jobs on - and I'm still in both of them now.

"I have also been groundsman for nearly 50 years and washed two kits for the best part of 30 years - and those two have been the hardest jobs!"

Shropshire FA chief executive Roy Waterfield travelled to St Martins to make the presentation.

"It is a phenomenal achievement and clubs like St Martins just wouldn't survive without people like Derek," said Waterfield.