The committee man!

For Ken likes nothing more to be at the heart of the decision making -- a decision that has benefited football and bowls in East Lancashire for the best part of 40 years.

Ken has been a committee man since his late 20s and now, aged 70, a man most turn to when a level head is required.

He's never been a man to chase positions in the 'hot seat' but, having built up such a good reputation over the years, has always been a man in demand.

"My wife jokes that I have my fingers in too many pies and to a certain extent, she is right," said Ken who is the current chairman of the Blackburn Sunday League and president and the Blackburn and District Bowls League. "The thing is, I like to be involved in sport. If I am asked to serve on a committee I just can't find a way of saying no."

Born-and-bred in Great Harwood, Ken was the biggest in the St Huberts Junior School football team and so became captain.

"I remember we used to play some inter school matches against the Council school and they had a player called Brian Councell. He was a big lad like me so we always used to mark each other.

"It would be fair to say we had a good few tussles."

Ken went on to play for Great Harwood Colts in the Accrington and District Boys League and then Mount Pleasant in the Accrington Combination.

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Blackburn Combination side St Joseph's was Ken's next stop -- but the calling came from the unlikeliest of sources.

Ken recalls: "I got married when I was 20 and the curate at St Joseph's, Father Birch asked me if I would like to go and play in the team. It was a strange request but I decided to give it a go." Ken joined the Saints and played in their reserve team that won the Division Four championship in 1954 and were runners-up in the cup.

National Service robbed the Saints of his services between 1956-58 but Ken did not miss out on success as he helped the RAF to an Inter Forces cup final win.

After his two year stint was up, Ken returned to St Joseph's and in 1963 became the club's secretary.

Ken's committee skills were noted and in 1968 was invited on to the Blackburn Combination executive before serving as the league's fixture secretary for five years.

He said: "I loved those days with the Blackburn Combination. I used to sit at the table with my daughter Julie, who was 12 at the time, and we used to go through the fixtures together.

"It's funny because Julie was sports mad while my other daughter, Susan didn't want anything to do with it."

But that probably has something to do with a brush with a trophy lid falling on her head! "That was at a Blackburn Combination presentation evening. It was the typical thing you see at such events. The captain receives the cup and lifts it to show to his team-mates. Unfortunately, the lid fell off and right on to Susan's head.

"She hasn't really liked sport since!"

In 1975, Ken was asked to become secretary and treasurer of the Lancashire Combination -- a role he took up with the blessing of Harry Parker, chairman of the Blackburn Combination.

"I didn't like to leave the Blackburn Combination but this position came up and Harry told me to give it a go. So I did."

Ken served the Combination until 1982 when it joined with the Cheshire County League to form the North West Counties League.

In his most high profile role, Ken was the North West Counties treasurer and fixture secretary for 19 years until 1999.

Between 1984-95, Ken was also chairman of the East Lancashire League.

After a distinguished 19-year period with the NWCL -- where he has been made a life member -- Ken became chairman of the Blackburn Sunday League.

"I enjoyed my time with the North West Counties but at times it became too political.

"Grassroots sport is what it is all about for me and I am loving my time with the Blackburn Sunday League."

That would probably be enough for most people -- but not Ken!

For he is just as committed to the world of bowls, not forgetting his seat on the Blackburn Sports Council executive.

He is president of the Blackburn and District Bowling League and is also chairman of Queens Park Round Bowling Club.

And probably just as important to Ken, a half decent player as well.

He plays in the Blackburn and District League on a Monday, the Veterans League on a Tuesday and also in the Darwen League with Audley House Sports and Social Club, where he is president.

"I've been lucky enough to have won a few things in my time. I won the President's's Competition and with my daughter Julie, we won the Blackburn Town doubles event."

Ken admits that he will have to take a backward step sooner or later -- but it will be a lot harder than the steps forward he has taken in the past to fill so many roles.