David 'shocked' to receive FA award
DAVID Leech said he was ‘shocked’ to receive The FA 50-Year Award for Service to Football.
The Woodbridge Town FC President and Life Vice President was presented with the award by Suffolk FA Chief Executive Richard Neal at last Saturday’s Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division home game against Heacham.
The 79-year-old has served Woodbridge Town FC, and football in Woodbridge, almost continuously since making his senior debut for the club in the 1961-62 season to the present day, accumulating 51 years of active service to football.
He said: “I don’t like to be in the limelight, so I was shocked to receive the award. It is an honour to have such an accolade from The FA and the club.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to both play for Woodbridge Town and be involved for so long. We had lots of very good players over the years and the club is currently thriving.”
David was one of the most prolific forwards in the club’s history during his eleven seasons as a centre-forward, after making his Ipswich & District League Division One debut aged just 16 in the 1961-62 season.
He went on to score more than 300 goals before his retirement from Senior football in 1972, having earned, with Woodbridge, a runners-up medal in the Ipswich & District League Division Two (1969) and winners medals for Woodbridge in the League Division One (1971), the Suffolk FA Primary Cup (1968), the Woodbridge Charity Cup (1968), the Saul Cup, (1971), the Peel Cup (1971), and Suffolk FA Junior Cup (1971).
After his retirement from playing David assisted with coaching the Woodbridge Cubs and Scouts football teams which in 1982 merged with Woodridge Town Youths Football Club, with David as assistant manager of the U13s team (1982-84), Manager U14s (1984-85), serving on the Youth Committee (1982-85) and as Woodbridge Town Youths FC Vice-Chairman (1984-85).
David, who has lived in Woodbridge all his life, first served on the management committee of Woodbridge football club in the 1965-66 season, rejoining in 1982 until 1988, and again between 1996 until the present day.
He has held a number of senior management positions including Commercial Manager, Vice Chair, Life Vice President and Club President and is the lead club official hosting pre-match and half-time board room hospitality at Notcutts Park.
Richard Neal said: “To spend 50 years involved with one club is so rare, so it was an fantastic honour to present this to David on behalf of The FA, Suffolk FA and Woodbridge Town FC.
“David’s contribution to Woodbridge Town FC cannot be understated. But as a measure of the man that David is, he will try to understate it. In fact, a trusted few within the club had to keep the presentation a secret from David for fear that he wouldn’t attend the game if he knew a short but special moment would be dedicated to him and his contribution to the club, town and county! By half time, he was back to making sure everyone was well looked after in the hospitality suite.
“You only need to spend a short period at Woodbridge Town FC to understand how important David is to the club. Whilst, as at every club, a tight but incredible group of people drive the club forward, David embodies the soul, the spirit of the club. He continues to be a standard-bearer, a keystone, a foundation upon which all else is built, and will do so for many years to come.”
David Leech (left) is pictured above receiving his award from Suffolk FA Chief Executive Richard Neal. Photograph: Paul Leech
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