Post by Dave on Jul 10, 2016 5:57:13 GMT
Jul 8, 2016 17:41:06 GMT @raypilgrim said:
Centre front row with football is my uncle Steve Jane of Harbertonford FC who started his career at Stoke Gabriel.I had the pleasure of meeting Steve Jane for the very first time two seasons ago when I covered a game down at Harbertonford. Steve chatted away before the kick-off and how great it was to hear him recall much about his life in local football and the very big part he has played in it.
Steve was born in Stoke Gabriel and went to Tweenaway School in Paignton and showed real flair for the game at an early age. He was selected to play for Torbay Schools playing against equivalent sides from all over the West Country. He played in two very memorable matches. One was a 2-0 win over Bath at their Bath City ground and the other was a victory over West Cornwall at Plainmoor.
Yes Steve did play for Stoke Gabriel during his late teenage years but then moved to Harbertonford and discovered there was no team to play for in the village. He played a big part in reforming the village team and played over six hundred games for them. In 1989 Harbertonford won the Devon Intermediate Cup at Alphington, beating Cheriton Fitzpaine by 1-0.
Many will also know that Steve served as an administrator for 12 years on the Devon County FA and many more on the South Devon League. At Harbertonford, he has been club secretary since 1959. Steve Jane won the BBC Spotlight's Unsung Hero's award in 2003, what a legend this man is.
Three great photos I have found and below them a great article on Steve Jane that appeared in the Herald Express in 2009
TORBAY SCHOOLS DURING THE 1947/48 SEASON: Back row, ?, Brian Melmore, Dave Massey, Bill Strudwick, Gordon Isaac, ?. Front row, Den Moysey, Steve Jane, Dave Motchell, Nipper Joint and Peter Hooper
1965 Harbertonford team
DEVON INTERMEDIATE CUP WINNERS IN THE 1988/89 SEASON
The 2009 Herald Express Article
TODAY marks a formidable milestone for one of football's most colourful and efficient club administrators at grass roots level.
For June 19, 1959, is when Harbertonford FC joined the South Devon League having previously competed in the South Hams League.
And it was 50 years ago to the day when Steve Jane was appointed club secretary, a post he still cherishes three months away from his 77th birthday.
Turning the clock back on those 'golden' years, the man better known as 'Mr Harbertonford' reflects:
"We had to rely on local farmers for a pitch back in those days, and very often pick up the cow and sheep droppings before a game could start.
"There weren't any showers either: the players had to scrub themselves clean in tin baths, and take their kit home and launder it themselves."
The difference today is colossal.
Steve adds: "We have our own pitch in the centre of Harbertonford village, there are decent changing rooms with showers, and we have our own clubhouse. I'm often told how lucky our players are to have such a good set-up."
Steve's roots were actually planted in Stoke Gabriel, and he represented Torbay and District in 1948 while a pupil at Tweenaway School in Paignton.
On leaving school, he played two seasons for Paignton YMCA when their home pitch was the Redcliffe Hotel end of Paignton Green and they had players such as Dave Cavanna, Les Durant, Frank Smith, Colin Baker and Lew Hussey to name but five.
Stoke Gabriel was his next club when Frank Collings, Hammy Collings, Ivor Andrews (a cup was to be named after him) and Jock Dewer were among the star names, but all that came to an end in August 1955 when Steve married.
The Janes' moved to Harbertonford where Steve stuck to his promise that he would only ever play for the team where he lived.
Harbertonford FC were in the process of reforming at the time, only for the competition they were in - the South Hams League - to fold in 1959 and force the club to apply elsewhere for regular football.
It's a remarkable fact that Steve has also registered as a player in all of those 50 years since the 'Fords joined the SDL.
It amounts to something like 700 first and reserve team appearances. And even today he's quite prepared to carry on playing a substitutes' role if the club are prepared to pick him!
"Unfortunately, they're scared I might suffer a heart attack or something similar. That, or they're afraid I might show them up," jokes Steve.
Football, it has to be said, hasn't allowed Steve's massive contribution to go unrecognised, for he's received a string of awards at domestic, county and regional levels.
They include the George Burley Memorial Award, the Bill Davey Award, the DCFA Rose Bowl, the Football Workforce Award, the FA's Gold Medal commemorating 50 years to the game, the Linesman of the Year award (three times) and the Devon Sports Award presented for voluntary services to sport.
Perhaps, though, the highest award in terms of profile came in 2003 when Steve won the BBC Spotlight 'Unsung Sports Hero' award which gained him access to the stars at the BBC's national Sports Personality of the Year Award in London.
"I also went to London back in 1996 during my time as a member of Devon County FA," recalls Steve.
"I represented them at the retirement dinner for FA president Sir Bert Millichip at the Hilton Hotel. Sporting celebrities were also out in force that night and, while I recognised most of them, a few hadn't even heard of Harbertonford, never mind know where it was!"
Steve is thrilled to the core that his beloved club has gone from strength to strength in the time that he's been their administrative prop.
"Looking back, we've had some characters, and also some very good players," he said.
"There was Ian Richardson, who has been treasurer of the South Devon League for the past 19 years.
"There was never a dull moment when he was around, and there was defender Mike Stumbles, who used to impress that the first tackle was the one that mattered. He was a great captain as well.
"Bob Richards was a skilful player, who represented the league several times, and, finally, there was centre-forward Ralph Ryder. He would score goals from anywhere on the pitch, no matter the conditions."
Steve also showered praise on those currently in charge of the club's two teams in Division One (just promoted) and Division Five.
"We had a good season, and I'd like to pay tribute to the managers James Hannaford and Jeff Palfrey for all their hard work with the first team, and Zeb Peters and Wayne Bovey for the Reserves.
"Also, I couldn't have carried on without help from my right hand man, John Mills, and all the players that play and have ever played for Harbertonford FC.
"Above all, however, nothing would have been possible without my understanding wife of 54 years, Val.
"She's been a footballing widow all this time, but I know I couldn't have achieved anything without her backing and support."