Bob Shuttleworth, who has filled with distinction virtually every post imaginable on the committee of the having once been a successful team manager himself, has called it a day.

One of the leading lights on the Bolton amateur soccer scene over the past decade and beyond has finally decided it,s time to let others take over the reigns he has held so sturdily and slope into a well-deserved retirement. Bob Shuttleworth, who has filled with distinction virtually every post imaginable on the committee of the Bolton Sunday League, having once been a successful team manager himself, has called it a day. In typical caring fashion and always with an eye on the future he announced his decision to finish at the end of the season months ago in order to avoid confusion and for new arrangements to be made. Understandably other committee men and member clubs have spent the last few months half-hoping he may change his mind but all the time knowing that once this man has his plan in place he will stick to it. League Secretary Alan Johnson says, "I just can,t praise him enough for what he has done for the Sunday League over the years and all the other lads feel the same. He has put heart and soul into it - and that heart is solid gold. We miss him already. Whilst we wish him all the best and thank him for all he has done we are certainly sorry to see him go. He is irreplaceable there,s no doubt about that. Right from the moment we met we got on like a house on fire and we,ve just become big mates as well as colleagues and he is the same with everyone. We wanted in some way to pay tribute to his massive contribution to the Sunday League over the years. A Presentation was made but somehow it didn,t seem quite enough for a bloke of Bob's stature. We had full turnout of all the clubs at our meeting last week and we put it to the floor that we should ask Bob to become League President. The vote was absolutely unanimous which shows the respect that everyone has for him. He,s accepted the post which delights us all. What a truly genuine bloke he is!" Bob has also stood down from his role with the Goldline Trophy committee as he means to make this retirement decision stick. A presentation has also been made in recognition of his considerable contribution to that competition. Chairman of the Goldline committee Keiran Tilley says, "What a terrific fella Bob is. He has been with the Goldline since it started and we are going into our fourth year. His input has been tremendous and has played a large part in establishing the tournament as the best there is around here. He took over as match secretary last season and what a fabulous job he did. It ran like clockwork. We shall certainly miss him because we have all become firm friends but we certainly respect his decision and if anyone deserves a breather it is Bob! " For the man himself the emotions over the last fortnight have been high. "These presentations have been marvellous and it just shows what really decent people you get to meet in football," he says. "Being asked to become League President is just about the greatest thing that has happened to me in football. I am very, very honoured and it certainly brought a lump to the throat. I just want to thank everyone involved. It has been a very enjoyable ride."

Loyal servant decides to call time on the sport he loves MR FOOTBALL'S

FOND FAREWELL By John Bullen ONE of the leading lights on the Bolton amateur soccer scene over the past decade and beyond has finally decided it's time to let others take over the reigns he has held so sturdily and slope into a well-deserved retirement.

Bob Shuttleworth, who has filled with distinction virtually every post imaginable on the committee of the Bolton Sunday League having once been a successful team manager himself, has called it a day.

In typical caring fashion and always with an eye on the future he announced his decision to finish at the end of the season months ago in order to avoid confusion and for new arrangements to be made.

Understandably other committee men and member clubs have spent the last few months half-hoping he may change his mind but all the time knowing that once this man has his plan in place he will stick to it.

League Secretary Alan Johnson says: "I just can't praise him enough for what he has done for the Sunday League over the years and all the other lads feel the same.

"He has put heart and soul into it - and that heart is solid gold. We miss him already. Whilst we wish him all the best and thank him for all he has done we are certainly sorry to see him go. He is irreplaceable there's no doubt about that.

"Right from the moment we met we got on like a house on fire. We've become big mates as well as colleagues and he is the same with everyone. We wanted in some way to pay tribute to his massive contribution to the Sunday League over the years.

"A presentation was made but somehow it didn't seem quite enough for a bloke of Bob's stature. We had full turnout of all the clubs at our meeting last week and we put it to the floor that we should ask Bob to become League President.

"The vote was absolutely unanimous which shows the respect that everyone has for him. He,s accepted the post which delights us all. What a truly genuine bloke he is!"

Bob has also stood down from his role with the Goldline Trophy committee as he means to make this retirement decision stick.

Contribution

A presentation has also been made in recognition of his considerable contribution to that competition.

Chairman of the Goldline committee Keiran Tilley added: "What a terrific fella Bob is. He has been with the Goldline since it started and we are going into our fourth year.

"His input has been tremendous and has played a large part in establishing the tournament as the best there is around here. We shall certainly miss him because we have all become firm friends but we certainly respect his decision and if anyone deserves a breather it is Bob!"

For the man himself the emotions over the last fortnight have been high.

"These presentations have been marvellous and it just shows what really decent people you get to meet in football," he says. "Being asked to become League President is just about the greatest thing that has happened to me in football. I am very, very honoured and it certainly brought a lump to the throat. I just want to thank everyone involved. It has been a very enjoyable ride."