DEDICATION to his home town's amateur football club has earned Bill Aisbitt one of the league's top off-field accolades.

The 71-year-old was awarded the Albany Northern League's Unsung Hero award after almost 50 years service to Shildon Football Club, this year's second division champions.

Mr Aisbitt has acted as groundsman for more than 30 years, devoting much of his time to the upkeep of the County Durham club's Dean Street pitch.

The grass-cutting equipment he uses is symbolic of his tireless work - he restored it himself after finding it abandoned in a farmer's field.

He also came to the rescue of the club when the council condemned the dangerous perimeter wall at the ground. A fter the club was given an estimate of £40,000 to renew the wall, Mr Aisbitt fixed it for nothing.

The retired welder, of the town's West View Terrace, said: "I was over the moon. It was a complete surprise but a very welcome one. I first got involved in the club as a member of the supporters' club in 1951, then joined the board of directors, as chairman for a few years. I basically do anything they need me for."

Shildon secretary and FA divisional representative Mike Armitage said: "He's here seven days a week - he even works behind the bar and makes the bacon butties.

"Clubs just wouldn't survive without people like him."

The award, which was presented at the league's annual dinner on Friday, completes a family double - Mr Aisbitt's wife, Edith, shared it with fellow Shildon tea lady Joan Clarkson several years ago.

Mr Aisbitt said: "We are Shildon through and through, and love the club. Our youngest granddaughter, Lucy, who is 14, has even started to help out in the kitchen."

Shildon received two other awards: Charlie Walton was named player of the year, and John Outhwaite was the division's leading goalscorer.