JOHN Bennett has been suitably rewarded for 50 years' service to Woodbridge Town after being presented with a lifetime achievement award at the 2009 Suffolk Coastal Sports Awards ceremony.

Elvin King

JOHN Bennett has been suitably rewarded for 50 years' service to Woodbridge Town after being presented with a lifetime achievement award at the 2009 Suffolk Coastal Sports Awards ceremony.

He joined the current Ridgeons League club as secretary and was a long-term vice chairman. He is currently an honorary vice president. John also held posts within the Suffolk Football Association, and has spent numerous hours involved in local football matters. Keith Dixon has been connected with Woodbridge for 63 years, and received a similar accolade from Suffolk Coastal a couple of years ago.

He was club chairman when John was vice chairman, and said: “It is always nice when football stalwarts get some recognition for their efforts.”

Keith is still spending plenty of time working for Woodbridge Town is his current capacity as chairman.

He has recovered from a heart attack suffered on the golf course in the summer of 2008, and reflected on changes that have taken place since Woodbridge moved up from the SIL to their current level 20 years ago.

“In those days we were not paying a penny to players in wages,” he said. “Now it takes up much of my time with money having a big say in which clubs wins trophies.I t is no longer a level playing field, and it can be a struggle for clubs like ours to do well. But only one team can win the league and does it really matter whether you come fifth from top or fifth from bottom if you are not champions?”

The 2010 Ridgeons League presentation dinner and dance has been provisionally booked for the Hotel Elizabeth, Copdock on Saturday, June 5.