A long-serving groundsman has reaped the rewards for his hard work after being recognised with a national award
Dereham Town Football Club's Alan Hall, who has been tending the club's pitches for 34 years, has been named the Ryman League's top groundsman at the FA's Groundsmen of the Year awards.
He was also highly commended in the step three and four competition which included all leagues covering those parts of the non-league pyramid.
Mr Hall, 67, of Southend, Dereham, said: "It certainly was nice to get the recognition.
"Two of the judges were groundsmen from West Ham and Tottenham."
"I am all self-taught and it is just a matter of taking advice sometimes from people."
Mr Hall added that the support of the football club was a big help towards the award.
He said: "If I ask the club for something, within reason, they are prepared to back me."
"They want to play on the best so they see the reason for it."
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