Craven Football Association Centenary Dinner and 50 Year Award Presentations
July 2, 2009
The Craven District Football Association celebrated its Centenary Dinner on Friday 26 June 2009 at the Rendezvous Hotel Skipton when invited guests included Mr John Goodfellow former Chief Executive of Skipton Building Society, Mr Roy Carter JP, Chief Executive of WRCFA and FA Representative, Mr Peter Marsden WRCFA President, representatives of the County District Associations, members of clubs ,referees and friends of football who gathered to pay homage to 100 years of football in Craven and were welcomed by Craven FA secretary David Town. Each guest attending received a gift either a gents umbrella or a ladies manicure set suitably inscribed. The loyal toast was proposed by Malcolm Lord President of the Craven District Football League and the toast The Football Association and West Riding County FA was proposed by David Napper Chairman of Craven FA with response by Mr Roy Carter, who at the conclusion presented President Allan Cawood with a memento from the Football Association. Mr Peter Marsden proposed the toast to the Craven District Football Association who also presented Allan Cawood with a memento from the WRCFA, who suitably responded. The toast Our Guest’s was proposed by Colin Beck, Executive member of Craven FA with a response from Mr John Goodfellow. Mr Roy Carter concluded the evening with two presentations for long service to football to Allan Cawood and Peter Marsden who received long standing ovations from the audience as a testimony to the depth of respect these two gentlemen of Craven football have earned over the years.
Allan Cawood
One of Craven’s most loyal football servants Allan Cawood was presented with the Football Association long service award at the Craven FA Centenary Dinner. Allan has worked tirelessly for local football as a administrator and referee to both junior and senior football in the Craven area, establishing a junior league in West Craven in 1948 and a year later joined the Craven FA, he commenced refereeing in the early 1950’s acting as Secretary for the Craven Referee’s Society and for a two year spell in the 1960’s was Secretary of the Craven FA until pressure of his newsagent business led to his resignation, however Allan continued to hold his interest in football, he rejoined the Craven FA in 1977 and a year later became secretary and held this position until 1994. He was instrumental in re-establishing the junior league in Craven with eleven teams which has grown to 160.
Allan’s wealth of knowledge of Laws and Rules at both National and local level are highly respected within Craven, one of life’s rare breed, a true gentleman and despite his personal handicap he has displayed high level of commitment to football maintaining his high level of impeccable standards.
Peter Marsden
Peer first came into football when he joined the Skipton Bulldogs in 1948 – they were all heroes in those days – and Peter spent his time taking down the coffee, helping with the nets and continued with this work until he left school then he was able restricted because of his work bur Peter still helped when he could until he joined the RAF in 1953.
Three year break and then back to civies with helping Bulldogs when he was able – as long as it did not spoil his trips to matches or his courting. Peter’s football really began in 1958/59 when he applied to “Ossie” Fairhust to become a referee. He joined the Craven Referees Society and became the representative on the Craven FA for a season in 1960 and then went on to the Craven Football League.
In 1963 Peter became Registration Secretary for the Craven Football League and at the same time took over as Secretary of The Referees Society from Allan Cawood. In 1963 he became Referees Appointments Secretary until 1972 when he gave the job to Colin Beck.
In 1973 Peter became League Secretary – a position he held until 2003. He did relinquish the Referees Appointments position to Roy Warman and gave up the position of Referees Secretary after twelve years – becoming a Life member of the Association and also becoming a Life member of The Craven Football League.
Peter rejoined the Craven FA in 1974 being allocated as their representative in 1978, being allocated to the Youth and Minor Cup Committees. However, on retiring as a referee after some 27/28 years Peter was allocated to the Referee Committee and Disciplinary Boards and became Chairman of The West Riding Referees Committee where he served until 2003. At that point he was elevated to the position of WRCFA Chairman followed by elevation to the position of County President in 2005. He was also appointed as Chairman of Directors and as Chairman of Disciplinary Committees.
Peter is a Life President of the County FA, Life member of the Craven Referees Society, a Vice President of The Crave District Football Association as well as The Craven Football League. In addition both Maisie and he are honorary members of Trawden Celtic for services rendered.
In addition during this whole period the Craven District FA, have been indebted for all his work in assisting us through often trying periods.
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2 Responses to “Craven Football Association Centenary Dinner and 50 Year Award Presentations”
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Hello, I wonder if you could forward me email addresses for Peter Marsden and Allan Cawood as I would like to congratulate them on their long service awards. I know them personally as they were great friends of my late father George Saunders, who also had the honour of receiving the same award.
Thank you,
Hazel Player
Good Evening Hazel
First of all I must apologise for the delay in responding to your comments; I knew your Father who was a gentleman in every sense of the word and was a tremendous Ambassador for local football. Peter and Allan are also in the same category and like your Father fully deserved their Long Service Awards; Peter’s email address is peter.p.marsden@btinternet.com and Allan’s email address is abcawood@btinternet.com.
Over the last year Allan has been working towards the staging of an Exhibition to celebrate 100years of football in the Craven area as part of the Craven FA’s Centenary Celebrations at the Folly,Settle from Saturday 8 August 2009 to 27 October 2009.The official opening is this coming Saturday but unfortunately Allan is in hospital at the moment and will not be able to attend the opening.
Regards
David Town
Secretary