Hethersett Athletic

The club's first two life members were presented with special mementoes at the 2003 annual presentation evening at Carrow Road. To read about the evening click here. The third was presented with a special memento at the 2004 annual presentation evening and the fourth at the 2005 event.

The award is made at the behest of the club's committee. The criteria for becoming a life member is:

Those who have made an outstanding contribution to Hethersett Athletic Football Club
Those who have made an outstanding contribution to soccer in Hethersett
Those who have made an outstanding contribution to sport in the village
Those who have made an outstanding contribution to Hethersett life.

In addition a fifth category was instigated in 2006 with a special section for players who have completed 300 league and cup games. The first recipient of this was Danny Holman who played his 300th game for the club on October 8th, 2006.

The first two incumbents - Ian Harrison and Mel Perkins - were presented with their honorary life memberships by deputy chair of Norfolk FA Stuart Dracup. The club currently has seven honorary life members.

IAN HARRISON

Ian is well known in soccer circles both in Hethersett and further afield in Norfolk.

His enthusiasm for the game and his ability as a coach has rubbed off on many of the players who have come under their wing over many years.

Ian began coaching in the village well over a decade ago at Cubs level and was then responsible for starting a Hethersett team that met with considerable success in local leagues and which concentrated almost exclusively on Hethersett players.

A few years ago Ian joined Hethersett Athletic as both a committee member and a coach of a new adult side which entered Division Four of the Norwich and District Sunday League. He led that side to three consecutive divisional championships - many of which were achieved by massive margins.

Ian subsequently retired from coaching teams but left the first team in good shape to eventually progress even further. Ian is pictured receiving his award from Stuart Dracup

MEL PERKINS

Every successful club needs a Mel Perkins and it would be true to say that without Mel's vision Hethersett Athletic would not exist.

For Mel started the club (then known as Hethersett Jubilee) in 1991 with one Under-12s boys' youth side. The fact that today the club has 12 teams catering for all ages and both sexes is testament to his skill, professionalism and enthusiasm.

Today Mel is club secretary and the debt the club owes him for his hard work is immeasurable.

Mel looks after the day to day running of the club and still finds time to serve on the management committee and as fixtures secretary for youth leagues.

In addition he is heavily involved with cycle speedway in the village and is pictured above.

In 2004 Mel and Ian were joined by current club chairman Peter Steward who was made an honorary life member to mark his work for the club. The following year club vice-chairman Sue Milne was elected to mark her outstanding contribution both to the club and also women's football in Norfolk.

In 2006 Danny Holman became the first player to be made an honorary life member after completing 300 league and cup games. Danny is pictured below at a special presentation from his coach Bob Oliver whilst fellow Men's A team players look on.

Danny has subsequently been joined on the role of honour by fellow players Paul Martin and Matt Steward who have both completed 300 league and cup games for the club. The current list of life members is:

2003	Ian Harrison
2003	Mel Perkins
2004	Peter Steward
2005	Sue Milne
2006	Danny Holman (players award)
2008	Paul Martin (players award)
2009	Matt Steward (players award)