A volunteer has won an award for spending more than 40 years of his life at a community football club.

Craig Walsh, was awarded the Culture, Leisure and Sporting Life Award at the CVS Community Volunteer Awards after dedicating more than four decades to Mill Hill St Peters Football Club.

He began volunteering for the club from the age of seven and has taken on various roles including playing for the club, as well as becoming their manager.

He now volunteers as their club secretary and is part of their management committee.

Craig, who has worked at Blackburn College for 28 years, was nominated by Blackburn with Darwen Councillor Damian Talbot and was presented with his award at King George's Hall.

He said: “The award was for the whole club; I wouldn’t have won it without all the people involved at every level of the club. There are a number of dedicated volunteers that help to support the club, they are my motivation.

"It was a really nice feeling to be presented with the award, and I am happy the club has been recognised. I played until I was 28, and then became the team manager for 12 years.

“Seeing others getting pleasure from your efforts volunteering, along with the people that you meet and friends you make, far outweighs the time that you give up to volunteer. The biggest thing for me is the people that I’ve met over the years; I have been able to make lots of friends whilst volunteering.”