Eddie Beaglehole is first ever winner of Alick Jeffrey Award

Very appropriately, the first ever winner of the Alick Jeffrey Award is another man with a name synonymous with Doncaster.
Eddie Beaglehole (centre) is presented with the Alick Jeffrey Award.Eddie Beaglehole (centre) is presented with the Alick Jeffrey Award.
Eddie Beaglehole (centre) is presented with the Alick Jeffrey Award.

Eddie Beaglehole collected the prize on Friday for his outstanding contribution to grassroots football in the town.

The 87-year-old, whose son Steve managed Doncaster Rovers for a short time in the early 1990s, has dedicated his life to introducing youngsters to football, encouraging them and supporting them.

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He was presented with his award at half time of the Dawson & Burgess Doncaster & District FA Challenge Cup final at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Beaglehole recently created a foundation at Fishlake Falcons boys club - securing a field as the club’s new base.

And his legacy will continue there, within the village and surrounding communities, for years to come.

A statement on Rovers’ official website read: “The Doncaster & District FA are delighted to announce that the winner was Mr Eddie Beaglehole.

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“Eddie has committed almost his entire adult life to the promotion of sport, particularly football, in and around Doncaster.

“After commencing his first coaching badge in the late 1950s, with the likes of Sir Bobby Robson, Eddie progressed until as Headmaster of Thorne Grammar School he managed the England schoolboys in the 60s/70s.

“Throughout his development as a coach, Eddie has worked in grassroots and schools football organising an annual event at High Melton where schools and grassroots clubs would come and stay and play each other, with teams from as far away as Israel.

“As his experience and qualifications increased, Eddie worked at a number of professional clubs, always with youngsters and worked tirelessly to assist in the development of children.

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“From the coaching of, supporting and recommending footballers to clubs, arranging tournaments, personal visits to football clubs, personal meetings with footballers, attending presentations, taking footballers to trials etc, Eddie has spent his whole adult life pushing young footballers forward, helping those in grassroots, even if they didn’t make it, to be the best they could.

“Eddie’s commitment has showed no bounds and even until today whilst caring for his wife he still does all he can to push junior football.”

The Alick Jeffrey Award was commissioned earlier this year by the Doncaster & District Football Association in conjunction with Doncaster Rovers to recognise and honour the outstanding contribution made by Alick Jeffrey to professional football in Doncaster and for the grassroots game as a whole.

For more information about the award email [email protected].