LONG-SERVING Sticker AFC secretary Chris Osborne, along with seven other club members, were recently recognised for their service by the Cornwall County Football Association.

Chris has recently stepped down from the role and to mark this occasion the CCFA decided to honour him with a 25-year long service award to Cornish football.

They also decided to honour David Parke, Adrian Hughes, Clive Julian (groundsman), Theo Corfield (treasurer), Graham Beer (vice-chairman) and Malcolm Vian who were in attendance, although Pat Edwards unfortunately was away.

Chris was presented with the award before a recent reserves match by Steve Carpenter and Danielle Peel, while the rest of the seven were surprised.

Chris also spoke to Bill Avery about his involvement in the game as Bill explains.

Chris was fortunate that after leaving youth football in 1968 he chose to join the recently re-formed Sticker Club the following season.

He was even more fortunate that the team he joined for the 1969/70 season was very successful and secured three Duchy League trophies.

Barring a few appearances for the Sticker senior team playing in the Cornwall Combination League for three largely unsuccessful years, his only other noteworthy playing success was a cameo appearance in the Cornwall Combination League Cup final of 1973.

In it, Sticker upset a strong Newquay side after a replay. As a player that was as good as it got for him.

He became club secretary at Sticker for three seasons in 1972 to 1974, but he had to give this up when he had to move away in his employment. 

He returned home in 1983 and spent a couple of seasons helping the Charlestown Youth team.

In 1999, after several attempts to persuade him to return as club secretary by Monty Donnithorne, he agreed.

During the past 25 years the role of club secretary has changed quite dramatically.

From paper-based administration and using the postal system, which meant visiting players and other club secretaries at home to secure registrations and transfers, this was a regular time consuming occurrence.   Now pretty much all of the administration can be completed electronically on the laptop from the comfort of the sofa using the FA’s Whole Game System and Full Time.

It has also been his aim to have a good working relationship with the bodies who administer football in Cornwall.

He is genuinely grateful to the Cornwall FA, South West Peninsula League, St Piran League and the South West Regional Women’s League whose staff have readily given assistance when required.

Chris states that it has been a pleasure and privilege to have been involved with such a well-run club as Sticker.

They have continued to maintain a strong and dedicated committee throughout the years.

This has enabled them to support the secretary when necessary and he trusts make the ‘back office’ an efficient unit.

The club would like to thank Chris for all of his hard work over the years and look forward to seeing him at Burngullow Park throughout the season.