Mark Hignett
– 10 year Service Award to Schools Football
Mark was invited to manage one of the Shropshire Schools and Colleges FA county representative teams following a successful first season culminating in two Gay Meadow victories and the re-emergence of the school as a footballing force on the county scene. At the same time as this he also took on the role of secretary for the Shrewsbury District Football Association.
Twelve years on and now employed as the Senior Assistant Headteacher at Hadley Learning Community in Telford, He continues to serve SSCFA with genuine pride and enthusiasm. Mark’s responsibilities within the organisation have increased to include inter-county match coordinator, football development officer, both since 2009 and vice chairman since 2011. He was appointed to the English Schools’ FA national council in 2014 where he serves on several committees including chairing the PR and Communications sub-committee as well as representing the Midlands on all matters.
He is currently the ESFA’s principle organising officer for the forthcoming Under 18 Centenary Shield International between England and the Republic of Ireland to be held in Shropshire in April.
Colin Willcox
– 50 year Service Award to Schools Football
On the occasion of the Annual General Meeting of the Shropshire Schools and Colleges Football Association held at the Shropshire FA Headquarters on Monday 23rd June a very special presentation was made to long serving stalwart Colin Willcox who received the highest accolade from the English Schools Football Association for 50 years service to schools football. In making the presentation, John Read, Chief Executive ESFA paid tribute to Colin’s dedication and commitment towards the delivery of schools football within Shropshire. During his long and distinguished service Mr. Willcox took on responsibility for all county secondary competitions including the introduction of competitions for girls and over the past eighteen years has been the driving force behind the highly successful Greenhous Federation Centre for Primary Schools that now takes place at the Shrewsbury Sports Village on Wednesday evenings. In addition to his work on the football front Mr. Willcox has given similar support to schools cricket competitions.
At the recent Shropshire Schools Sports Athletics Association John Beswick International Presentation evening two of the SSCFA Officers received Long Service awards for their outstanding contribution to School Sports.
PHIL BRADBURY
– Services to Shropshire Schools and Colleges Football Association – 25 Years Treasurer.
Shropshire Lad, educated at the Priory Boys (when it played Rugby only), and on leaving school in 1953, joined the Shropshire County Council where he joined the Education Department, initially in the Enquiry Office, going on to work in Transport; Further Education and Resources sections. He retired from Shirehall in 1992.
As a sportsman, he excelled, including High Jump Champion for Shrewsbury & District, was selected for Shropshire at Long Jump for the All England Athletics Championship. In 1952, at fifteen years of age he was selected to play in goal for Shrewsbury Town Reserves which did not go down too well at the Priory Boys School. And he continued to play in goal well into his forties with local clubs Rolls Royce; Shrewsbury Amateurs and NALGO.
An outstanding all round sportsman. He still enjoys daily physical exercise through regular swimming; working out in the gym at Albrighton and cycling into town and still manages to find the time to follow Grandson Liam’s sports schedule at Greenfields school.
As Treasurer to the Shropshire Schools and Colleges FA, the Association’s Officers greatly appreciate his advice, support and conscientious nature in looking after the accounts.
PERCY MULLALY
– services to Schools Sports both at District and County Level – 40 Years
Percy started his teaching career in 1964 where he taught at Woodside Primary in Oswestry, Albrighton Juniors, St Michael Street Primary and Crowmoor Primary school.
Percy spent 30 years at Crowmoor Primary as Deputy Head organising sport through the school. He has been involved with the Shrewsbury & District Football team for some 10 years and has been involved with organising the Shrewsbury & District Cross-Country Championships for almost 20 years.
A former Chairman of the Shropshire Schools & Colleges Football Association, Percy is now SSCFA’s Primary Schools Competitions Co-ordinator and leads the management team at the Greenhous Federation Centre at the Shrewsbury Sports Village on Wednesday evenings throughout the season.
Presentations of the awards were made by Scott Brown, former Thomas Telford and Shropshire Schools County goalkeeper and has been with Cheltenham for many seasons.
ALAN JONES
– Services to schools’ football – 50 years
Alan, or “Mr Schools Football” as he is known, enjoyed over 50 years of active involvement as a volunteer with schools’ football in Shropshire. He has held just about every position within the association including Team Manager, Chairman, Sponsorship/Finance Officer, Cup Final Organisation and Patron. Whatever his role, he was always been the driving force behind the association.
His tireless work has had an impact on all areas of the game, but perhaps most significantly in girls’ football. The number of competitions for girls as well as female representative teams have been a fixture of the SSCFA calendar since the early ‘90s thanks to Alan and his pioneering work.
His work in schools’ football was not restricted to county level and he was also instrumental in the re-emergence of the Telford and Wrekin Schools FA as a leading district association on the national stage.
Alan’s legacy is the history of what he has achieved and the people (children and volunteer staff) he has inspired. In the one hundred years of schools’ football in Shropshire two things are certain: there has never been another Alan Jones and there will never be another Alan Jones. Alan has been a truly driven, unselfish and influential volunteer.
Alan was presented his 50 years service award by the English Schools’ Chairman Alan Johnston.
