Sunday League stalwart awarded special accolade
LONG SERVICE HONOUR FOR PRESIDENT LEGGETT
GRIMSBY Sunday Football League president Steve Leggett has been honoured for his long service.
He was recently presented with an award by Nick Hanson, the CEO of the Lincolnshire FA, in recognition of his many years of service to the League.
Steve’s involvement in football began in the 1960s as a player for Grimsby Rovers in the fourth division of the Grimsby Saturday League.
When the opportunity arose for Steve to take the referee’s examination course he went for it and successfully completed it, opening up a whole new path for him within the game.
Local football was much less volatile in those days and Steve admits his role then was more acting as timekeeper, rather than issuing bookings and sendings off. It was during his time as a referee that Steve first became involved with the Grimsby Sunday League.
In 1972, a new opportunity opened up when Sunday League Secretary Mike Fowler announced he would be retiring. The position was advertised in the Grimsby Telegraph and there were just two applicants, Steve being one of them.
The interview for the position was held at the Cyclist Club, Hainton Square in Grimsby and Tony Parrott remembers sitting on the interviewing committee alongside then Chairman John Blackburn. Steve presented a very good case and so the role became his.
At that time, the Sunday League had seven divisions with a total of 88 teams competing for Steve to keep in check. It was also around this time that the local leagues started to have talks with the Referee’s Association, resulting in the formation of the Grimsby All Leagues Committee with which Steve was heavily involved and chaired for many years.
The popular Cleethorpes six a side tournament at Sussex Rec was also running during the summer and Steve helped to keep it going; the money it raised helped to pay for goal nets which were not provided by the Council at this time.
Steve kept the position of secretary for three seasons until he went into business with his wife and did not have the time to commit to the role. In 1975 Tony Parrott took over as Secretary, Roy Teanby became chairman and Steve became vice chair.
In 1986 when Roy suffered a heart attack, Steve stepped up to take over as chairman and lessen the load for Roy. Steve served 15 years as league chairman and in 2001 decided to call it a day but was persuaded to take over the position as league president, a position he holds to this day.
Sunday League secretary Rachel McWilliam said: “Steve is a much valued member of the Sunday League committee and his knowledge and experience are invaluable.
“His firm but fair attitude is just what’s needed when dealing with tricky situations and many a time Steve has stepped into the breach to chair disciplinaries. His expertise at chairing a swift no nonsense AGM is also second to none.”