DEVIZES Town secretary, Neil Fautley has been recognised by the Western League for his 22 years of service to the club in the form of a long-service award, writes Ian Nockolds.

The award was presented to Fautley on Good Friday, prior to Devizes' Wiltshire-derby defeat to Warminster Town.

Fautley is a former match official and local businessman, and has been a recognisable face at Nursteed Road for many years as well as being a popular character across the Western League.

Writing in the club's matchday programme on Bank Holiday Monday, Fautley thanked Devizes Town chairman, Shaun Moffat, for nominating him for the award, but was keen to stress that it represented the contribution that all volunteers make to running local non-league football clubs.

The Devizes club secretary said: “It’s not really an award for me, it’s a team award as there is no “I” in team.

"It’s for all the volunteers at grassroots football without whom there wouldn’t be clubs like Devizes Town.”

The presentation was made to Neil by Western League Match Official, Brian Bishop and organised by Western League Director, Sue Merrill, with the kind co-operation of Warminster Town Football Club.