Kerry Stokes, 46, a furniture restorer from Culcheth and chairman of Culcheth Athletic, has picked up the Bobby Moore Award at a Lancashire FA presentation event at the County Ground, Leyland. This is not some flimsy participation ribbon either - it is given to an individual, team, club or league that represents the very best of grassroots football.
And honestly, if you know how local football actually works, the choice makes perfect sense. The glamorous side of grassroots sport is usually mud, admin, late-night WhatsApp messages, and someone desperately trying to find a missing set of bibs. Kerry has been chairman for two years and is also temporarily acting as secretary, match secretary, club welfare officer and a female coach for the newly formed Wildcats academy. Admirable, yes. Slightly alarming, also yes. It tells you everything about how much village sport depends on volunteers quietly doing the work of several people.
The encouraging bit is that Culcheth Athletic sounds like a club in very good nick. Based at Culcheth High School, it currently has 21 teams, including two girls' teams. Next season, the club is adding another three girls' teams as well as three new under sevens mixed teams progressing from the academy. That is exactly what you want to see in Culcheth - steady growth, proper inclusion and something with real roots in the community, not just a shiny social media post and a banner nobody reads.
Kerry has quite rightly said the award reflects the efforts of everyone connected with the club, from the committee and coaches to parents, friends and family. That rings true. No grassroots club flourishes because of one person alone, however capable they are. It survives and grows because decent people keep turning up, keep organising, keep encouraging kids, and keep the whole thing moving when it would be much easier to sack it off and stay warm indoors.
Her description of the chairman's role is refreshingly grounded too. She talks about helping the club thrive and move forward, supporting volunteers and coaches, making key decisions, upholding the club's values and making sure children and young people have a positive, safe environment to enjoy football. Sensible stuff, and far more valuable than the self-important waffle that clogs up so much of the professional game.
What stands out most is that she is not obsessed with results alone. She talks about creating an atmosphere where people feel valued, included and motivated, and about celebrating young players and volunteers. Quite right too. Winning is lovely, but a well-run local club does far more than fill a trophy shelf. It gives children confidence, routine, friendships and a place to belong, which is a lot more meaningful than a dramatic post-match quote.
So yes, this is a well-deserved honour for Kerry Stokes and a proper point of pride for Culcheth Athletic. The only criticism, if there is one, is aimed at the wider state of grassroots football - too much rests on the shoulders of people like this, and too often they are expected to carry the lot with little fuss and even less glamour. Still, when someone from Culcheth is being recognised by Lancashire FA for doing things properly, and when the club keeps expanding, especially for girls' football, it is hard not to be impressed. Quite right as well.