Club news

Alan Dunsford 60th

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Alan Dunsford celebrates his 60th and completes 38 years with Westfields.

Alan Dunsford joined Westfields Football Club in 1969 and apart from a mini break in the ‘80s where he left to join Tupsley as player/manager he has been with us for all that time.

He has given the Club tremendous service, both on and off the field, and indeed in his own managerial capacity with our Herefordshire Premier side and of course as a committee member through thick and thin.

Alan in fact was Chairman of the Club for quite some time before John Morgan took over the reins.

We cannot speak highly enough of Alan who has always been extremely supportive to all the functions that we raise, was an excellent player, scored vital goals and played in many memorable matches and formed the “attack of the three Alans” in the ‘60s and early ‘70s when we had Alan Hartland, Alan Dunsford, and Alan Wiltshire who ripped into many a Sunday League and Worcester League defence.

Alan was a gifted player, often scoring excellent goals and could play in any position but was primarily a striker although he then played in midfield roles and latterly played at right back in the West Midland League days, especially in the memorable game against Rocester when we needed to win and stay up in the Premier Division when the West Midland League was a really strong force.

Alan then took over the chairmanship of the Club and led us through some difficult times at Rotherwas but we overcame them and then we of course started the move for our new ground which Alan was very prominent with as he helped behind the scenes and in particular was responsible for a lot of the work that went on at the new building along with John Morgan.

Alan has also managed the Hereford Premier Division side over the years and was also an assistant to the late Dennis Hartland, again in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

In summing up, Alan Dunsford has been a tremendous servant to Westfields Football Club from the minute he joined the Club to now where he still retains that enthusiasm off the pitch and was with us at our FA Vase game on Saturday where he drove himself up to Shawbury to see us play in the FA Vase.  He is a perfect Clubman who has seen the Club progress and he has been a big part in helping to see the Club develop to where it is today as, when he joined it we were just one team playing on Widemarsh Common.

Happy Birthday at 60 Alan.  Let’s hope you are still with WFC for many, many years to come.