Steve bids farewell to league
The Perthshire Amateur Football Association is on the lookout for a new league secretary.
Dedicated Steve Bonthrone is hanging up the boots after 10 years of service ahead of the new season kicking-off in August.
Steve looks back on the past decade with a lot of positive memories and hopes someone will step forward quickly to fill the role.
“I’ll be sad because there are a lot of nice, genuine people involved,” Steve said. “The commitment they give is incredible.
“Guys have dedicated most of their adult life to amateur football which is quite astonishing. “I will miss these guys. “From the administration point of view, I’ve learned a lot about the ins and outs of working with the Scottish Amateur association and the SFA.
“Going through to Hampden for disciplinary procedures was an interesting thing to do.
“People appreciate what you do.
“It’s like running a club, people appreciate it even if they don’t say it to you specifically.
Tom Latto (right) presents Steve Bonthrone with a leaving gift for his 10 year service “I’ve met loads of people Modern advances have the refereeing I almost got the from Perth and Kinross meant that the role of role by default. It was a stopgap through this but also from secretary has been everchanging and I was stepping in for other areas. in recent years. a few months.
“They are all committed Steve reckons it’s a great “But once I got in to it I just to the progress of amateur position to take on for kept it going. football and football in learning new skills. “The greatest impact has general.” He said: “When I finished been emails, Facebook and having a database for registration of players.
“The admin side of things has become quicker and more efficient.
“But that takes up time as well.
“The level of expectation from clubs is now greater because you have the technology behind you.
“I was never a committee man but the learning curve from creating minutes, attending meetings on a regular basis and preparation has all been good.
“It’s good for the CV for a start, for job applications and just for your skill-base.
“It was certainly beneficial to me, giving new skills and contacts.
“You need to be committed to the cause and I’m sure someone will step up.”
With a little more free time on his hands next season, Steve will be a regular face down at Farquharson Park to watch Scone Thistle.
“I’m keen on Scone Thistle, which is my local team so I help out there putting the goals out and things like that,” he said.
“Being involved in lower league football, I’ve now not got any interest in senior football.”