AFTER more than 60 years of volunteering in Forest football, stalwart Sid Jones is calling it a day.

Sid, from Mitcheldean, has been key in doing administrative work for the North Gloucestershire League for decades.

The 82-year-old was recognised at the league’s annual general meeting last Wednesday, where he was presented with an award by league president and former Premier League referee Clive Wilkes.

Sid first got into volunteering for local club Mitcheldean in 1957 after returning from serving the army in Singapore.

After that, the Gloucestershire FA requested his services and subsequently ended up on the committee of the North Gloucestershire League.

Sid steps down with his sight beginning to falter and a hip operation planned in the near future, but is succeeded by his son Paul.

The room at Mitcheldean Community Centre, the league’s headquarters, echoed with rapturous applause when Sid received the honour from Wilkes and all present joined in giving him a deserved standing ovation.

For the full story, read The Forester.