Crossland rewarded for efforts

Chris Crossland receives Eddie Hebblethwaite Award for services to local football from the Mayor of Calderdale Coun Pat Allen. With them are Graham Hebblethwaite, the Mayors consort Robert Weeks and Carole Arnold.

The 63-year-old from Sowerby Bridge received the award, which recognises services to local amateur football, at Halifax Town Hall.

He is retired, having worked as an instructor for people with learning disabilities in Calderdale.

Crossland was a founder member and player for Staff of Life FC, who were set up in 1975 and later became Todmorden Weavers.

We was secretary of Weavers from 1982 to 1989 and qualified as a referee in 1987, officiating mainly in the Halifax Sunday League up to the turn of the century.

He joined the Halifax Sunday League’s management committee in 1988 and has had a couple of spells as a delegate to the Halifax FA

He was made a vice president of the Halifax Sunday League in 1995 and was league secretary from 2001 to 2012.

He is now a life member of the Sunday League and has a 25-year’ service award from the West Riding County FA.

Crossland’s sporting interests are not limited to football - he is chair of Audax UK - The Long Distance Cyclists’ Association.