A DEDICATED amateur football stalwart has been honoured for his service to the game which spans more than three decades.

Dirrans Athletic AFC secretary Davy Faddes was recently given Life membership of the Ayrshire Amateur Football Association for 35 years continuous service.

The Kilwinning man joined the club in 1982 and has been club secretary since 1984.

He was also the Vice President of AAFA from 1999 until 2002.

He received a signed certificate for services rendered along with a crystal decanter and two glasses.

Grandfather-of-one Davy (61) is delighted to be recognised and said: "A couple of committee members, Gary Porter and Hugh Wallace pushed for the award - I was gobsmacked when I found out that I had been given the award. It's quite an honour. Very few people receive this award. I couldn't do my job without Gary and Hugh who helped take me around, as I don't drive and also they download my paperwork as I'm not computer-literate."

The president of the club, John Scott, whose dad, Jimmy founded the Dirrans in 1946, received Life Membership a few years back. That's two of us from the club.

"I couldn't do my job without Gary and Hugh who helped take me around, as I don't drive and also they download my paperwork as I'm not computer-literate."

Davy, who played with former Kilwinning team Market Thistle in the 1970's, recalled how he first got involved.

He said: "I went to the club in 1982 when Joe Morrison was secretary and two years later he became Ayrshire AFA Secretary so he showed me the ins and outs of his job and I took over when he left.

"I run the club in terms of registering players, working with managers. I organise referees and deal with team-lines, I have been involved with about 10 bosses during many times.

People think I'm having a break for the summer, but it's a 52-week job! I am already booking up friendlies and seeing when the Sports Club is available for home fixtures."

He feels Jason Stewart, who recently stepped down as manager for personal reasons, helped transform the club's fortunes.

"Sometimes there are bad time but in the last few years the club was turned around - Jason Stewart was a smashing manager. We were in Division Four when I started but Jason really turned the club around and we just missed out on promotion on his first season to the Premier Division.

"In his second season he won the First Division title and for the last four seasons we have been in the Premier Division. Last year topped it off when we won the John Scott Memorial Trophy and Donsport on our 70th anniversary. Helping out with Dirrans is a labour of love for me, I enjoy it so much," said Davy.

He added: "I enjoyed being Vice-President of the Ayrshire AFA and represented the President when he wasn't available and attended cup finals in Ayrshire and was also at Hampden when Hurlford Thistle won the Scottish Cup Final."