THE chairman of Swindon Town Women’s Football Club, Martin Wheeler, has joined the efforts of many people trying to get Coleview man John White formally recognised for his community contributions after saying the town’s female team wouldn’t exist without him.

Martin revealed that John White, 82, was heavily involved in the origins of the club.

“It all started with my daughter who would’ve been 10 years of age,” he said.

“She was often just playing football in the street. There was a woman up the road who ran Swindon Spitfires - she knocked the door and asked if we’d allow her to play football properly.

“But she had to be fourteen to play for the Spitfires so she was referred to John White who ran the youth club at Coleview.”

“She played football there - a five-a-side tournament - which is how I ended up helping out, before going on to play for Swindon Spitfires.

“Then in 1993, myself and John were approached and asked to help start a women’s football club for Swindon Town FC.”

John would go on to become the club secretary and Martin described him as incredibly efficient and hard working.

“He took on the role as secretary to Swindon Town Ladies as it was called then. He did all the organising of fixtures and everything, player registrations, everything was done by post, team sheets had to be sent through the post to the FA by Monday.

“But over the years this started to get less and less, and now it’s done with text messages and emails or websites, so John couldn’t do it anymore.”

“He was so meticulous, before AA route maps and satellite navigation, he would do a route before we set off, would have everything marked down and knew exactly how long journeys would take, he knew if he was ahead or behind schedule.”

John has since retired from his secretary role, but his efforts for the Swindon Town Women’s team have led to the club having its own John White trophy which is awarded annually to a non-player for their off-pitch efforts during the season.

“John was long ahead of his time when it came to women’s football,” said Martin.

“It’s highly likely that without his input, this wouldn’t have happened.

“Most of the women playing football in Swindon now are playing football because of John’s influence at one point or another.

“I firmly believe he deserves some form of formal recognition for everything he’s done, not just for Swindon Women’s football, or the Coleview community, but the whole town.”