Glasshoughton Welfare match secretary Barry Bennett has been given a special award by the FA in recognition of his fifty years of service to football.

He recently received a boxed medallion and lapel badge from Barry Chaplin, the West Riding County FA representative of the FA.

Barry's association with football began back in 1955 when, at the age of fourteen, he played for local village team Fairburn Welfare in the former Pontefract & District League.

After leaving school, he attended Castleford Youth Club and, as player/secretary, formed a team to play in the Pontefract League before moving on to works outfit Pollard & Philidas playing in the West Yorkshire League and after a short period took over as club secretary.

In 1971, he became a member of the Castleford & District FA, serving as assistant manager to the District Under 17's team for a number of seasons before being elected chairman of the District in 1997, a position that he currently holds.

In 1974, Barry joined the committee of Fryston Colliery Welfare in the West Yorkshire League and took over as secretary a couple of seasons later when they entered the Yorkshire League.

Following the demise of Fryston Welfare in 1992, he moved on to near neighbours Pontefract Collieries spending a number of seasons as match secretary before joining Glasshoughton Welfare in the NCEL, a position currently held.