Barry Bennett, right, was presented with a long service award by the FA last year. West Riding County FA chairman Barry Chaplin presented the award to him.
Local football stalwart Barry Bennett has passed away after a short illness, Glasshoughton Welfare have announced.
Barry, who was the club’s vice-chairman and match day secretary, was 74.
He was also the chairman of the Castleford FA. He was honoured by the Football Association only last year after completing 50 years of service to local football in West Yorkshire.
Barry started in 1955 when he started playing age 14 with Fairburn in the Pontefract & District League. After leaving school he attended Castleford Youth club and as player / secretary formed a team to play in the Pontefract League.
After a couple of seasons he joined works outfit Pollard & Philidas playing in the West Yorkshire League, later taking over as Secretary.
A change in career took Barry to Hickson & Welsh Chemical company and following a short playing career took over the role as secretary in the Castleford Sunday League.
He was approached by the late Joby Merrick and in 1971 became a member of the Castleford & District FA, serving as assistant manager to the District U17s for a number of seasons.
In 1974 Barry joined the committee of Fryston Colliery Welfare who played in the West Yorkshire League at the time and took over as secretary a couple of seasons later when they entered the Yorkshire League.
Following the demise of Fryston Welfare in 1992 he moved to near neighbours Pontefract Collieries, spending a number of seasons as match secretary before joining Glasshoughton Welfare in the North Counties East League.