THREE stalwarts of local football in the Wharfedale FA district have received awards from the Football Association to mark their 50 years service to the game. 
The presentations were made to Peter Wilkinson, Rachel O'Connor and Ray Tate by the Chairman of the West Riding County FA Barry Chaplin prior to Guiseley AFC's home game on Saturday.
Peter Wilkinson from Pool-in-Wharfedale has served his local club Pool AFC over the full 50 year period, starting as a player in 1970. 
He played for the club over a 30 year period. In 1974 he became a committee member before becoming club secretary, a post he has held for 43 years to date.
He has also been a committee member of the Harrogate and District Football League and has twice been the Wharfedale FA Club Secretary of the Year.
Rachel O'Connor was something of a pioneer back in 1967 when she founded and managed an Under-18 boys' side, Burley Rovers, in her home village of Burley-in-Wharfedale. There were few women involved in football in those days.
Rachel, who now lives in Yeadon, went on to assist a couple of Sunday sides before becoming involved with Guiseley AFC in the 1980s, initially going along to Nethermoor as Sports Editor of the Wharfedale Observer to do match reports.
She became fully involved at Guiseley running the Reserve team as secretary for 20 years. She recently retired from editing the club programme after a 21 year stint and has also been secretary of the U-16s, kit manager and kit washer, Press Officer (a role she still carries out) and still works in match day hospitality and is a Trustee of the club's Community Foundation.
Rachel served on the Lancashire League Management Committee, winning the Gary Parkinson Trophy for services to the league, and has been a member of the Wharfedale FA since 2002, becoming its first female Vice President. 
She was Chairman of the Youth Committee when Wharfedale won the County Minor Cup and has been Wharfedale FA Club Secretary of the Year.
Ray Tate started playing football at Tyersal School aged 12 and he went on to represent Bradford Boys. He continued playing as an adult before taking up refereeing, later becoming a Referees' Assessor.
Ray took up administrative duties as Club Secretary of Wrose Albion and became involved with the Bradford and District FA. 
Now living in Baildon Ray is Chairman of the Bradford Sunday Alliance and is Referees and Fixtures Secretary of the Wharfedale Triangle Sunday League.
Not content with that workload Ray recently joined the Wharfedale FA Executive.