HALF-A-CENTURY'S devotion to the amateur game have earned Mr Ken Barlow the Lancashire Football Association's Order of Merit for 50 years service.

The honour is a richly deserved one for Ken who was founder chairman of Walshaw Sports Club when the villages' football and cricket teams amalgamated in 1965.

Indeed it was he, while serving as a councillor on the old Tottington UDC, that negotiated a 30-year exclusive lease on 4.5 acres of farmland, later extended, to develop the club's full-size soccer pitch and cricket ground.

He also obtained the funding for the current impressive clubhouse and changing room facilities on the Sycamore Road site.

He joined Walshaw Schools FC as a player in the 1950-51 campaign, continuing playing until he retired in 1964.

As well as his involvement with the local club Ken served on the committee of the Bury & District Sunday Schools' League and was a member of the Myles N. Kenyon Cup committee.

After taking Walshaw from the Sunday Schools' League football, via the Bolton Combination and South East Lancashire League to the Lancashire Amateur League he joined the county league's council in 1977.

After serving on many of the league's committees he was made a vice-president for his services to the LAL.