CREDITON Youth Football Club recently invited Chris Gillard and his wife Mary, down to the pitches at Lord Meadow to be guests of honour for the morning to watch the games being played that day.

Chris recently reached the amazing milestone of 50 years’ continued service as a committee member of Crediton United FC. 

He was one of the first people attributed to forming a youth football team in the town.

Players from the Under 11’s Galaxy, 14’s and 15’s formed a guard of honour and clapped Chris onto the field of play.

Club Chairman Martin Daniel then presented a gift to Chris on behalf of the Youth Section to mark his achievement.

Chris then informed the players about his early memories of youth football in the town, and how proud he was to see youth football still flourishing in the town. Mary was also presented with a bouquet of flowers.

It was in 1979-80 that Chris started an Under 11’s side with his sons Ian and Kevin and their Landscore School friends to play friendlies against Hayward’s School and other local schools.

Interest grew from there and it was decided to enter two teams at Under 13’s and 15’s in the Tiverton and District league at the start of the 1980-81 season.

Later an Under 11’s side was also formed. Many of those players went on to progress to play Under 17’s football and to play for Crediton United.

Chris is thrilled to see the club now running teams from Under 7 through to Under 18’s, including three girls teams and also to see many players from the early youth sides who had progressed to play adult football and have now return again to coach at youth level.

Both the Youth and main clubs committee’s are now working closely together to hopefully ensure a strong foundation for the future of football in the town.

Alan Quick