A STALWART of a popular town football club has had 34 years of dedicated service recognised.
Well-known coach Frank Holliday, from Droitwich Spa Boys and Girls Football Club, has now been nominated for the 2013 West Midlands Sports Unsung Hero award.
Mr Holliday, who won the county's equivalent award recently, helped form the community club in 1979 when it only had one team and his son was playing in the side.
Since then he has held many different roles at the club, from coach to chairman, and has helped train many Spa children over the years.
The club now boasts 27 squads of nearly 400 players of all different age groups.
The 69-year-old still spends 17 hours a week coaching youngsters, mowing and marking out pitches, and sorting out kit.
Mr Holliday said: "I can't believe I've been nominated for the award. When I first started we only hand one team, now we have hundreds of children involved in lots of different squads.
"My son was playing so I got involved and helped form the club. Since then I have been chairman and now mark out the pitches and look after our St Peter's site.
"Now my son also coaches and my grandson plays, so it has come full circle. However, this award isn't really for me its for the whole club and everyone there that make it all possible.
"This award nomination is for them really. If there wasn't a Droitwich Spa Boys and Girls Football Club then I wouldn't be nominated."
He is one of five people to be nominated for the unsung hero category, which is part of the West Midlands Community Sports Award.
He will discover if he has won at a special ceremony at Villa Park tonight. The inaugural awards night is being staged in the Holte Suite and will be hosted by BBC Midlands Today presenters Nick Owen and Mary Rhodes.
The West Midlands Community Sports Awards recognise the quality, commitment and dedication of grassroots sport in the region.
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