Just prior to the home friendly with Salford City, Manchester FA’s Andy Baker and Sarah Cummings presented two of Trafford FC’s stalwarts, Graham Foxall and Dave Murray, with their Long Service awards.
Both of these Trafford FC Legends have clocked up over 25-years-service at the club (and still going strong) in massively important roles. It is absolutely right that the County Football Association should give recognition to people like Graham and Dave. Their unstinting voluntary service is what keeps clubs like ours afloat. Well done to both of them!
Graham Foxall was match secretary and groundsman at Flixton FC when in the summer of 1994 he was approached by Dave Law about moving to Trafford as football secretary and groundsman. Graham tells us: “I agonised over it for some time before deciding to take up Dave’s offer. It’s the best footballing decision I have ever made. Over my 25+ years at the club, it’s the friendship and camaraderie that has always stood out, whether it be committee, players, staff, volunteers and not least our fantastic supporters. It shows we’re truly a ‘family club’. I’ve been privileged to have witnessed some great cup final victories and promotions during my 1,350 or so matches! It’s an honour to have been recognised for my long service and to have been part of what the club has achieved both on and off the pitch these past 25+ years.”
Dave Murray joined the Irlam Town FC committee in 1978 when they joined the newly formed Cheshire League. Dave spent 14 years at Irlam including eight years as Football Secretary during which time the club played in the Northern Premier League. He moved to Curzon Ashton in 1992 joining their committee. However, he found the travelling to & from Tameside tough and in 1995 David Higgs (who’d been a player and manager at Irlam and was now coaching at Trafford) invited him to Shawe View. Dave says: “He arranged for me to meet Graham Foxall, Dave Law and John Williams and the rest is history! In over twenty-five years at Trafford I’ve met some fantastic people as fans, players, committee and been part of a real ‘family’ club winning many trophies. I look forward to many more seasons at Shawe View. I’ve had a great time at the club, we’ve had our ups and downs but we’ve come through it every time showing what a fabulous football club Trafford FC is. It’s amazing to have been given this award. Thank you everybody!” Dave is responsible for our matchday programme, Newsletter, History website AND is our matchday liaison officer.
Everyone at the club wishes Graham and Dave all the very best, and MASSIVE thanks for everything you do for our club – it would not be what it is without you two amazing guys! X
