Sporting star who stayed in background (From Oxford Mail)

Sporting star who stayed in background

10:00am Monday 8th February 2010 in

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THE focus in the football world is always on players and managers.

But no sport would run smoothly or effectively without a strong team of ‘backroom boys’.

Stewart Jacobs was one such man.

He never sought the limelight, but was a key figure on the administrative side of Oxfordshire football for many years.

We were reminded of his immense contribution to local sport when his daughter, Barbara Manger, sent in a collection of pictures gathered by her father over the years.

Mr Jacobs played football and cricket for Headington in his younger days, but his strength was always behind the scenes, where he worked tirelessly making sure paperwork was in order.

He became secretary of Headington United – the forerunner of Oxford United – and also served as the club treasurer. He was also the secretary of Headington Cricket Club.

In 1938, he was elected to the Oxfordshire Football Association Council and, in 1945, was appointed secretary, a post he held for 36 years, until 1981.

He was also Oxfordshire’s delegate on the Football Association Council nationally.

More than 100 representatives from local football attended his retirement party at Witney Town Football Club, where he received a silver rose bowl and a cheque.

Mr Jacobs – “Stew” to all his friends – died in 1985, aged 77.

None of the pictures Mrs Manger has supplied have dates, or details of the occasion and only one has names. We hope readers will be able to enlighten us.

More pictures from the collection will appear soon.