IT is a mark of the man that when Bill Maynard was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award, his first thought was not for himself but for those who missed out.

Bill has spent his sporting lifetime putting others before himself and on the night of his ‘greatest achievement’ it was no exception.

In his moment in the spotlight, the long-serving Blackburn Sunday League stalwart, spared a thought for John Pilling and Angela Caton, both shortlisted for the main award of the evening.

“When they read out the names on the shortlist and what everyone had done, I really thought Angela deserved to win,” said a modest Bill who is the results and fixture secretary of the Blackburn Sunday League. “So I was stunned when I heard my name called out.

“Naturally, I was delighted. It is a wonderful honour but it was a shock all the same.

“It must go down as one of my greatest achievements and I am thrilled.”

Those who know Bill will agree it is richly deserved.

As well as his role with the Blackburn Sunday League, he is a committee man at Mill Hill Football Club and works tirelessly in both roles.

However, it is his position as chairman of the East Lancashire Football Development Association that he hopes will be his legacy.

The ELFDA was formed as an action group and, working alongside Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, its aim is to improve facilities in grassroots football - and perhaps moving in to other sports.

“We wanted to get our voice heard because the aim is to improve facilities for junior and senior footballers across the area,” said Bill.

“But it has gone so much better than we first anticipated.”

“In a matter of months, it has grown and taking over my life now. But if I can leave some sort of legacy, then all the hard work will be worth it.”

Bill believes what the group is doing can be a blueprint to help other sports.

“We purposely put East Lancashire in the name because we set out with the aim of helping all football across the area. But we have realised that what we are doing can help other sports as well.”

In his moment of glory, Bill still had time to single out the one man who has been his inspiration, former Blackburn Sunday League secretary John Haydock.

“ He did so much for football. If this award was around when he was with the league he would have been a worthy winner.”