ON Friday, May 12, we had a wonderful day at Crediton United AFCs Golf Day at Downes Crediton Golf Club.  The sun was shining and it was a shotgun start for the teams.

That is when they all tee off at the same time around the course.  At 1pm with the sun shining on them, off they went.

Crediton RFC team of Bernie Blatchford (Rugby Club Captain), Mel Rice, Mike Saunders and Tony Palmer. SR 7737
Crediton RFC team of Bernie Blatchford (Rugby Club Captain), Mel Rice, Mike Saunders and Tony Palmer. SR 7737 (Crediton United FC)

They came home around 5pm after all that walking on a hot day, looking absolutely exhausted.

I know because my lovely wife Monica, Crediton United chairman Bob Chamberlain and myself were there to welcome them in for a superb buffet for more than 60 hungry men and two lovely ladies.  

The chef and his helpers did us proud and a good time was had by all.  Credit goes to Downes Crediton Golf Club and staff for helping to make this a great day. 

We had a fantastic array of prizes for the golf itself and also for the draw that we had afterwards.  Among prizes was a football that had been donated and signed by Exeter City First Team and a one-and-a-half litre of whisky, which were both auctioned.

Monica sold all the draw tickets with a total of £395 being raised.  The golf raised around £2,600.40.

Winners were the team of Dan Western, Darren Bingham, Tom Rowe and Steve Moore.

Runners-up were Craig Skinner, Nick Mingo, Alex Bowden and Dan Tresher.

Thank you to everyone who sponsored a hole, to all the sponsors and teams who entered, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. 

This will be my last fundraising event for the Club as I am stepping back from the job I have been doing for the past 25 years.  I was once told that I was second only to Jifty Steer with being a “B” nuisance pestering for money!

I would like to thank everybody in the past, present and future who has sponsored and will continue to sponsor the Club.

In the future, if you see me around the town, you do not have to dodge behind a car, remember some appointment or pretend not to have seen me, because I will not be pressuring you for money.

I started as a player down at Newcombes Meadow some 60 years ago, before we moved to Lords Meadow, and I would not have been able to achieve any of this without the help of my lovely wife, three daughters and son. 

It is with a heavy heart that I will be stepping back from most of my duties and thank you once again to you all.

Dave Blanchford

President

Crediton United AFC