FORMER West Flixton footballer Graham Ellis is the president of the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League this season, succeeding Harry Jack.

And he is relishing his new role at the helm.

He said: "I started playing in the league in 1974 with West Flixton, a great club which sadly no longer exists, then moved to Aldermere at Flixton Fields in 1978 and played there for 21 years until finally retiring in 1995.

“During the same period I also played for office teams and for representative teams in relation to my job on a regular basis.

“While I was still playing in Flixton, I became a founder member of Boothstown FC, where I still live.

"Boothstown was essentially a junior club and in junior football at that time referees were few and far between, so I was volunteered to take the FA referees' course and began officiating in the junior games.

“When I decided to retire from playing in 1995, the L&C referees secretary at the time, Graham Smith, used his very persuasive powers to get me to referee a few matches, which I did and carried on doing for 20 years, until 2015 when because of constant injuries I have had and slow down a little.

“Boothstown was still going on in the background and after some hard work and a Football Foundation grant and were able, with a little help, to secure our own superb facility with pitches and changing rooms.

“Refereeing was still happening and I was acting as both referee and assistant in other leagues and in county competitions during this period and enjoying the great camaraderie that is in the background to refereeing.

“My involvement with Boothstown also became greater when I was elected chairman and made sure that one of my goals was to introduce adult football at the club.

"I achieved this in conjunction with others and they played very successfully for two seasons in the L&C before moving to a higher league.

“In 2013 I was asked to come onto the L&C committee where I currently deal with league development, along with maintaining the standard of the grounds and pitches utilised by our clubs.

“I hope to get around to visit all of the league's clubs during the season and in my committee roles help to develop the league in its processes and enhance the facilities we play at in conjunction with the management of the clubs.”