On Tuesday, Registrations Manager John Young retired nearly half a century after his first day at Lancaster Gate.

During John's time at The FA he's seen a huge amount of change, not least the 15 England Managers who have led the country - Sir Walter Winterbottom was in charge when he began his first spell at The FA. And while John's name may not be as familiar to everyone as Sir Bobby Robson, Sir Alf Ramsey and Don Revie, he played an important part in football's fabric.

As Registrations Manager, John oversaw the contract registrations of players at every level of the game in England and was called upon daily by club secretaries, chief executives and chairmen to provide advice as they sought to make their next big signing.

Over the years John has seen a lot and has many tales of a life dedicated to football.

But it was a fresh-faced and enthusiastic young John Young who first strode into Lancaster Gate for an interview with then FA Secretary Sir Stanley Rous in March 1960.

After charming Sir Stanley, John was given a job at The FA. In September of that year, a smart 17-year-old headed to London for his first day at the office.

“Leaving school I had no idea what to do so I wrote to a number of London clubs and also to The FA,” explained John. “I was invited for an interview at Lancaster Gate with Sir Stanley Rous - it was a cold sunny Saturday morning in March.

"I remember him asking me what I was doing that afternoon. The answer was that I was going to Fulham to see them play Blackpool, especially as Stanley Matthews was playing. Sir Stanley Rous said he was going to the same game.”

A journeyman around the departments in the early days, John worked in the postroom, stationery, kit, youth football, discipline and tickets. He later dealt with The FA Youth Cup, press and stewards at Wembley, but it was to be the registrations department where he would really make his mark.

However, in July 1964, just short of his 21st birthday, John left The FA to join Southern League club Wimbledon FC, who had just turned 'pro, as their full-time Club Secretary.

“I got itchy feet and wanted to move on. Wimbledon were Isthmian League Champions and FA Amateur Cup Winners and on turning professional and joining the Southern League wanted a full time Secretary. I landed the job being the only one interviewed by their millionaire Chairman, Sidney Black, the then owner of the number plate RR 1 on his Rolls Royce.

“I was the only full time administrator at the Club so had to do everything even though we had a full time Manager, Lottery Manager, Club Room Steward and Groundsman. I was also the licensee for the Club's bars and I remember on one occasion having to apply for a new licence for a bar that had already opened.”

Four years later, a move east to Millwall's old "Den" gave him a taste of life as assistant secretary in the Second Division of the Football League.

But in October 1970 Denis Follows, Sir Stanley's successor at The FA, made John an offer he could not refuse - a return to The FA as Registration Secretary.

“When I left Millwall they were undefeated and top of Division Two with players such as Keith Weller, Derek Possee, Brian King and the late Harry Cripps. He was the only player who was worth a goal from the substitutes’ bench. If the team was not doing well he only had to warm up and the reaction of the crowd was worth a goal,” said John.

And for the next 38 years, while John remained a constant as Registrations Secretary, which was later to become Registrations Manager, much around him changed, from rules and regulations to office locations.

“What changes have I seen?” added John, “telex machines, fax machines, emails, computers, finance, technology, TV and the movement of people not only players.

“Thirty years ago what we would do in a month in respect to players leaving or coming into the country would now take just a day.

“However the game is still played to almost unchanged Laws and players have still to be registered on forms which have not changed very much over the years.“

He continued: “But the things I have been involved in are too numerous. For example the Under-21 international at Wolverhampton that kicked off at 11pm and finished the next day due to a bomb scare, or the fire at Lancaster Gate that meant that half of the staff had to work at Wembley for nine months."

But although the book closes here at Soho Square, John's tome continues with the Surrey County FA.

A Council Member and Officer with Surrey since July 2001 John will continue to pass on his vast knowledge of football rules, regulations and league sanctions in the Home County.

“I will not miss getting up early, I will not miss the travel, but I will miss the people I work with and deal with on a day to day basis. I will however still be involved in football as a Council Member with Surrey and will try to put something back into grassroots football.

“I am still a football supporter at heart and I will be at a game somewhere every Saturday afternoon, be it big or small. 3pm on a Saturday is the time for me and as long as I still get that buzz I will carry on watching.”