ENGLAND legend Peter Shilton was the special guest at Cornard Dynamos 50th anniversary celebrations.

The goalkeeper, who won 125 caps for England between 1970 and 1990, attended a family fun day at the club on Saturday.

Cornard Dynamos are a Youth football club based in Blackhouse Lane in Great Cornard, near Sudbury, who were established in 1972.  

The day was a huge success with more than 600 people turning out in the sunshine to support the event and celebrate the club reaching this significant milestone.  

The day consisted of the club hosting the much-loved ‘Nanny Jupp’ football competition, which is named after the grandmother of a former player who was a staunch supporter of the club.

However, rather than hosting this for children as the club do at the end of each year, all former players, managers, coaches and club members were invited to play.  

There was also a variety of food outlets, music, inflatables, football darts and a ‘beat the keeper’ competition courtesy of Moyes GK. 

England legend Peter Shilton who was the special guest at Cornard Dynamos 50th anniversary celebrations. Main photograph: Peter Shilton, his wife Steph and granddaughter Summer pictured with current committee members and other current and former members and players at the family fun day on Saturday.

Cornard Dynamos Chairman Jon Bale said: “It was great to see so many past and present players, managers and committee members attend our special day.

“The day was a great success and the presentations made by Peter Shilton was a fitting tribute to our amazing club.

“My favourite part of the day was watching the children from the younger age groups chanting the name of their manager as they played in the final of the Nanny Jupp.

“I would like to say a special thank you to everyone who has given up their time over the last ten months to help arrange the event and make sure it went off without a hitch.”

Club members said having Shilton attend the family fun day was the icing on the cake. He spoke with committee members and managers past and present and was also on hand for pictures and autographs.

Shilton was accompanied by his granddaughter Summer, who has recently been awarded Miss Junior Teen of Essex and is a finalist for the Miss UK competition. They presented trophies and fist pumped all players from U7-U16 as they received their participation trophies.   

The football tournament was a huge success, with 80 former players and managers returning for one last attempt to win the prestigious Nanny Jupp tournament. 

Eight squads battled in out in the heat, with players turning back the years and enjoying playing football at Blackhouse Lane one last time. Players ranged in age from 18-62, as they were randomly placed in squads of eight or nine to compete in the seven-a-side tournament.  

After the group stages and some closely fought semi-finals ‘Norfolk ‘n’ Chance’ and ‘The Goonies’  made it through to the final, with ‘Norfolk ‘n’ Chance’ scoring an early goal and going on to secure a deserved 3-0 victory.  

The winning team included four current Dynamos managers (Tony Parsons, Lee White, Chris Fisher and Andy Bailey) as well as former Dynamos and current Cornard United players Ollie Sims and George Day.