At Tithe Farm, home to Rayners Lane FC, it could be argued that Tony Pratt is Rayners Lane FC.
The club is in his blood. His involvement with it stretches back over half a century to 1968, and he’s served them in an impressive variety of voluntary roles since then, including club secretary in the early 1970s.
Across five incredible decades he has worked tirelessly to help run the club to an exceptional level.
As if the busy role of club secretary wasn’t enough, he’s also been responsible for running the tea hut, collecting spectators’ entrance fees, sweeping the dressing rooms and ensuring the match officials are looked after on Saturdays, Sundays and in midweek.
Not only that, but his hard work tending the pitch was the stuff of legends, before the grass was replaced with a 3G surface in 2018.
Always friendly and professional, Tony has been a great ambassador for Rayners Lane FC, day after day and over an incredibly long time.
He was due to finally hang up his training top this year, with a farewell evening planned with senior league members from the Middlesex, Herts, Hellenic and Spartan leagues in attendance.
This was sadly cancelled due to the pandemic, but Tony is no longer an unsung hero as he deservedly takes home this year’s award for FA Grassroots Volunteer of the Year.
