A DEDICATED father at the heart of a football club scooped top prize at a Didcot Town Council awards night.

Rob Roslyn's 15 years of tireless dedication to the Didcot Casuals football club was recognised by the presentation of the John Eldridge award.

He said: "I was gobsmacked, the other names on the list were so fantastic – I thought 'there is no way I'm going to get this'."

The 50-year-old, who lives in Slade Road, got involved as "a dad on the sideline" when his son was eight and played with the club.

Since then he has gone on to coach the under-eights team, start teams for girls and women and mentor new referees.

He is now club secretary and has been club chairman for four years.

Mr Roslyn added: "It is very important that we have grass roots sport because we teach more than just football to the youngsters.

"It's about discipline, team work and building friendships.

"You become like a secondary parent to them and they'll open up to you and tell you what they did at school that week.

"That's why I do it, it's for the kids."

The John Eldridge award for voluntary service was donated by Jean Eldridge in memory of her husband who died whilst serving as Deputy Mayor of Didcot in 1992.

Mr Healy said: "Robert's supporting endorsement, which highlights his achievements, runs to two and a half pages.

"So on behalf of the community of Didcot I have selected Robert as my recipient of this prestigious award.

"One look at the previous holders on this shield will no doubt prove Robert is in great company."

Nick Wright nominated Mr Roslyn and said that if it wasn't for him there would be no club.

He said: "It would be fitting recognition for Rob to be given the John Eldridge award for countless hours of hard, often unseen work he puts in so that the young boys and girls of Didcot can grow up playing football with their friends in a safe, fun and supportive environment.

"Rob has created an ethos and philosophy for the Didcot Casuals for which the club is respected and recognised around Oxfordshire.

"Although the Casuals is a vibrant Club with many volunteers running teams, attending FA courses, raising sponsorship money, it is fair to say without Rob, there would be no club.

"And no club would mean no football for hundreds of young people in Didcot."

Speaking at the awards ceremony last Wednesday, Mayor Des Healy, said: "It has been a privilege to look in detail at all the time and effort put in by the nominees varying from football, rugby, children’s centre, numerous charitable causes and various good works.

"Time freely given and no accolades asked for."

Didcot's most famous secret Santa Courtney Hughes came in third place at the ceremony on April 6 after she collected more than 4,000 gifts to give to people in hospital over Christmas.

For her dedication to relief efforts after the Didcot Power Station collapse in February, Nicola Hutchins came second out of the nine nominees for the award.