HUDDERSFIELD football stalwart Geoff Earnshaw has been honoured by the Football Association and the District League.
A top referee and administrator, he has received a 50-year award from the FA and a silver salver from the District League for his 60-years-plus association with them.
In addition, the man-of-the-match award in the Groom Cup final each year is to be named the Geoff Earnshaw Shield.
His connection with local football began in the late 1940s when he represented Cumberworth.
He then took up refereeing and progressed from the District League to the Yorkshire League middle and FA line, which involved him travelling to most English First Division clubs.
The highlight of his career was when he was linesman for an international match between Denmark and Finland.
But despite his elevation to the highest level, he still made himself available for matches in Huddersfield and district when he had a free weekend. When he retired from refereeing, Geoff was appointed vice-president of the District League in 1959. He became vice-chairman in 1977 and took the chairman’s position in 1983.
He became a member of the FA in 1985 and took the position of treasurer in 1992 – still holding that position although he intends to retire at the end of this season.
