Dedicated Essex volunteers Maurice Carter and Terry Alder recently received their FA 50-Year Awards to recognise them for decades of selfless dedication to grassroots football.

Chelmsford’s Maurice and Terry, from Romford, had their nominations approved in the middle of 2020, and have recently taken receipt of their mementoes. To be eligible for The FA’s ‘Order of Merit’ Award, a nominated individual must have completed 50 years as a volunteer, inclusive of their playing career but excluding any football played at school.

Maurice Carter

Maurice (pictured) started playing football in 1965 with Bakers Arms FC. He was a fringe player between 1965 and 1967 and was reserve as in those days as the First Team could not use substitutes. He was also one of the club’s fundraiser’s during that time, securing the money for kit and the day-to-day running of the club. He left Bakers Arms in 1972.

From 1969 to 1977, Maurice was Secretary of the Danbury Sports & Social Club and was associated with White Swan FC, a local pub. They went on to be renamed Priory Sports, and Maurice was instrumental in moving the new side to the Sports & Social Club.

He has been mostly involved with Sunday football, and has been with White Swan and Priory Sports, who play in the Chelmsford area, since 1975, for 40 of those years in their management team. Priory have been very successful, winning many prestigious cup competitions. They always welcome clubs, officials and visitors to their games - their hospitality is tremendous.

Maurice has held various positions with Priory Sports, stretching back to 1975 when he was a Second Team player until 1990. In 1980, he took over as Player-Manager of the Second Team until 1990, and continued as manager until 1995. He has also acted for both the First and Second Teams as Assistant Manager from time to time.

He became Social Secretary in 1980, holding that position until 1985, when he was appointed as Vice-Chairman. In 1995 he was named as Chairman and he still is to this day. Under his guidance, the community-focussed club has grown, attracting good, loyal players. 

Maurice played football for other clubs on Saturdays, namely Woodham Town from 1978 to 1992 and Moulsham Lodge from 1993 to 1995. He has also been a member of the Management Committee of the Pope & Smith Chelmsford Sunday League, firstly as a Committee Member in 1991, then as the league’s Vice-Chairman from 2008.

In 2011, he took on the role of Chairman until 2015. He was then elected as their Vice-Chairman in 2015, a position he still holds today. Maurice is a true football man who is loyal to his team and also working for his league, both as voluntary positions.

Terry Alder

Terry’s story started in season 1961/62 when he turned out for Claybury Hospital in the Ilford & District League, playing for them for two years. His journey then took a surprisingly different direction in 1965 when he mistakenly turned-up and played for the wrong club without realising it! It was a mistake which changed not only his fortunes, but that of Melbourne Sports!

He is still with them, undertaking the role of Secretary of a club who have existed for almost 70 years. Terry’s association with Melbourne Sports spans from 1965 to the present day - 47 years as the Secretary and 25 as a player. Terry was a good park player, always turning out with his team, even if it was a Reserve Team game, always giving 100%.

Terry took up the whistle as a match official between 1961 and 1965. He was good enough to be appointed as an Assistant Referee in a final for the Ilford & District League. Between the seasons in 1983 to 1993, Terry was also manager of a youth team from the eights to 18s age groups at Collier Row YFC who played in Barking and Echo Youth Leagues.

He was recognised for his knowledge of the grassroots game by joining the Management Committee of the Ilford & District League, as Secretary and then as Vice-Chairman, between 1994 and 2014. The competition amalgamated with the Essex Business Houses League to form the Essex Alliance League at the end of 2013/14 due to a reduction in participating clubs.

The new league nominated him as their first Chairman, a role he still holds to this day. Under his and the committee’s guidance, they have grown in strength, with 52 clubs registered for 2019/20. Terry is a true football man who is loyal to his team, also working as a volunteer for his league.

To find out more about volunteering within grassroots Essex football, browse the 'Volunteers' menu above, follow @EssexCountyFA on Twitter and search for ‘EssexFootball’ on Facebook.

Nomination Deadline for Long Service Awards

Currently, individuals who have given at least ten years of service to football in Essex as an honorary secretary of an affiliated club or competition, as a registered referee, or in various other roles can be nominated for a 2021 Essex County FA Long Service Award.

Many years of volunteering in local grassroots football will be recognised and rewarded, with submissions currently being welcomed for appreciated grassroots heroes until Sunday 31st January via this link. There are four categories:

Award of Merit: The nominee shall have given at least 40 years of outstanding honorary service to football in Essex, or in any other capacity felt appropriate, not including playing, refereeing or managerial service, and who is approved by the Executive Council of the Essex County FA.

Outstanding Service Award: The nominee shall have given outstanding service to football in Essex over a minimum of 30 years as an administrator or referee, or in any other capacity felt appropriate, not including playing or managerial service.

Exemplary Service Award: The nominee shall have given exemplary service to football in Essex over a minimum of 20 years as an administrator or referee, or in other capacity felt appropriate, not including playing or managerial service.

Long Service Certificate: The nominee shall have given at least ten years of service to football in Essex as an honorary secretary of an affiliated club or competition, a registered referee, or in any other capacity felt to be appropriate, not including playing or managerial service.

Nominations for these awards can be made via this online form. They must be received by Sunday 31st January at 11:30pm.