A SCHOOL caretaker who has dedicated 38 years of his life to Sunday league football, is to receive a long-service award.

Derek Pratt, 63, from Durham, started out in 1965 managing, coaching and even paying the bus fares for many of the players with Durham Athletic football club. Now, 38 years on, and he is still secretary of the club, which is now called the Victoria Bridge football team.

In the intervening years he has helped run many other Saturday and Sunday league teams and most recently he has taken on football coaching for children at Finchale Primary School, Newton Hall, Durham, where he works as a caretaker.

Now his thousands of hours of unpaid work are to be recognised with a long-service award from Durham County Football Association.

Mr Pratt said: "If I didn't enjoy doing this, then I would pack it in. But in fact I'm toying with the idea of starting another Sunday team."

Mr Pratt, who lives above the Victoria Bridge pub, in Framwellgate Moor, Durham, where his wife is the tenant landlady, will be one of 41 people from across the North-East, to receive an award from Durham County FA this month.

The event will be held at Durham County Cricket Club's Riverside ground, Chester-le-Street, on November 27. The awards will be presented to people who have given 30 years or more service to running the administrative side of grassroots football.

John Topping, from Durham County FA said: "It's the association rewarding volunteers who have put in over 30 years or 35 years service to administration in football.

"The glory often goes to those on the pitch, so we've decided we will reward those behind the scenes."