Well Done Ron Vaulter MBE!

I remember him well of course Merse from the same situation as you and am pleased to hear he is still active and has deservedly been awarded recognition for his unstinting efforts for the local youth of Shaldon and Teignmouth.

I always enjoyed playing his Shaldon Villa outfit even though their home pitch was only really big enough for five a side! We also seemed to play them five or six times in a season, twice in the league, twice in the League Cup group stage, and once in the knock-out (Dahl) cup, and if that wasn't enough normally included them in the pre-season friendlies.

My best memory against them was the last time we played them at Bakers Park where we scored to go 2-1 up in the final game of the League Cup Group Stage with virtually the last kick of the game, to put us above them on goal average and into the League Cup Final to be played only four days later.

That final, where you were captain I think of our team, was memorable for me as I had the ignominy of missing a penalty late on in the game. Whilst it turned out to be the only penalty I missed during my playing days, it had to happen in a Cup Final! Still, at least the goalie saved it unlike most of Beckham's which landed in Row H, and we did win 2-0 against the league champions who had got the double over us in our league clashes.

Although it did kick off sometimes in our games with Shaldon I have a memory of us generally getting on quite well with the Shaldon players. Several of them came to see us in that final and were supporting us. One player I particularly remember that you didn't mention was a lad called Keith Mason, a friend of Twitch. He was very skilful and had he been bigger in stature I think would have done very well as a player.

Am delighted to see the MBE awarded to Ron Vaulter for his work over many years with the youngsters of the area, and as well as Ron at Shaldon and Basil Lane who you mentioned at Newtor United, two other similar men I remember well from that time are Danny Hughes (Newton Dynamos) and Larry O'Flaherty (Foxhole United).

Tireless work from all of them to provide competitive sport for local youngsters, an activity often not properly recognised but which leads on to other important things like discipline, organisational skills, punctuality, teamwork, and leadership.

Do you remember who the referee was in that final at Homers Lane, Stefano?

A very young Lester Shapter ~ now whatever happened to him?

I can also recall a very good and promising ref called Peter Foxon, and I believe he and Lester are "still at it" in the South Devon League. Pete however, became a bit of a law unto himself after his career came to an end on the Western League and with nothing to lose he took a somewhat "maverick" approach to reffing and frequently became the topic of many a heated confrontation and gossip on the pub circuit in those after match sessions that seemed to go on for most of Saturday night if there was no game at Plainmoor to go on to.

I remember he once lined for me in a match of some importance and in desperation from the effects of his pipe smoke I snapped at him in the dressing room just before we went out "put that effin' thing out, what do you think I am a bloody kipper?" big mistake......................the old bugger gave me many a "controversial" flag that night complete with mischevious grin on his face. You lived and learned with guys like that!

For my shame I have to admit I have never heard of Ron Vaulter, I found a press release I have added below, plus a picture I took of the Shaldon pitch last year, I imagine its the same one you played on Merse?



Long standing cycling enthusiast and volunteer, Mr Ronald Derek Vaulter, will be awarded the MBE by Eric Dancer, Lord Lieutenant for Devon, on Tuesday 4 May, at Devon County Council's County Hall, Exeter.

Mr Vaulter of Combeinteignhead has dedicated his life to his community, inspiring and campaigning on behalf of young people for local leisure facilities.

In 1953 he founded the Shaldon Kestrels Cycle Club, successfully campaigning for a cycle speedway track at the King George V Playing Fields, Shaldon. Under his leadership, the track has developed to become a mainstream cycling club for young people.

Since 1965, Mr Vaulter has volunteered as a medical first aider for Teignmouth District British Red Cross, covering sports events, Teignmouth seafront British Red Cross station and the Carlton Theatre's annual pantomime.

From 1972 to 2005 he volunteered as a youth worker and committee member at the Winterbourne Centre in Teignmouth. The committee successfully campaigned for the Centre to fulfil a youth and community role.

In 1987 Mr Vaulter founded Teignskate and has since worked with Teignbridge District Council to set up skateparking facilities for young people in Teignmouth.

He later joined the founding committee of the Eastcliff Centre, and today he continues to be an active member of the Teignskate committee, and a voluntary youth worker for the Eastcliff Centre and Devon County Council.

Mr Vaulter has also been a approved cycling instructor, running courses at local schools and sports centres.

.....................one other thing about Pete Foxon was his absolute resolve to have a better and different method of dealing with incidents in play as they were highlighted during our monthly Referee Association get togethers than the "official line" ~ same of them were absolutley hilarious and I remember when myself, Phil Willer, Steve Penford and Ross Scott came back from the National Laws Of The Game Final in Stoke On Trent with the trophy and medals for winning it; old Pete puffing on that damned pipe and saying "just try reffing like that in a bloody cow field at Halwell & Morleigh"

We were presented with that trophy in 1985 by FA Cup Final referee Peter Willis a week before he controversially sent off Kevin Moran of Man Utd who became the first player ever to see red in a Cup Final when he "professionally fouled" Peter Reid of Everton.

Yes, Lester never did get an FA Cup Final to ref did he.......................absolutlely bloody scandalous when you look at some of his contemporaries who got them.