As the season draws to an end it is time to celebrate the administrators who make our football possible. Nominations for the prestigious Keith Busby Award are now being accepted by the AFA who will make the final decision about who will receive the award.

If you would like to nominate someone at your club please do so via the form below by Friday 26th April.

We were sorry to learn of the passing of Old Salesian and AFA Vice-President Patrick Morrisey last week. Pat was a long-time servant of the Old Salesians and the AFA, and after he finished playing he became one of the SAL's top referees.

From the Old Salesians: "Not only was Pat a team captain, but for many years he was our Chairman and, until his death, our Life President. His leadership was visionary and inspirational.

"He was a great advocate for our amateur game and was a particularly active and  influential member of LONSAR, frequently contributing thought provoking articles to the Argus.

A minute's silence was observed prior to the 100th final of the AFA Senior Cup on Saturday, played between Old Meadonians and Old Carthusians. Fittingly, Pat's wife Diane was in attendance.

The following are amongst the too many achievements to list:

• Pat captained the Old Salesians when they won the cup for the first time in 1968. He then refereed the A.F.A. Senior Cup Final, and he was the first of only 3 people to have completed this feat in the history of the A.F.A. 
• Nottingham University, captained by Pat, won the AFA Senior cup in 1962-3.
• Pat also reached the AFA Cup Final playing for Nottingham University when they lost to Cuaco.
• Pat has also refereed the Arthur Dunn Cup Final, when it was won by Old Carthusians, captained by Henry Nash. Henry is the son of Paul Nash who played for Old Salesians in the 1968 Final.

The Southern Amateur League wishes to thank Pat for his efforts over the years. Our thoughts are with his friends and family.


* * * UPDATE * * *
Funeral details for Pat Morrisey have been released on the AFA website:
​http://www.amateur-fa.com/news/2019/apr/15/patrick-morrissey-funeral-details

11 March 1937 to 1 April 2019

​We are sorry to report the passing of SAL Vice-President Dave Benge on Monday, 1 April. Dave - from Old Esthameians - was the Representative Team manager for the League from 1982-1990 and toured the United States twice during this period. We will be forever grateful to Dave for his service to our competition. Our thoughts are with Dave's friends and family at this time.

Funeral details will follow when available.