North Devon Association Football League - Photos and Prominent People
This page will hopefully contain photos from over the years, to include prominent people from the North Devon Football scene. That includes players and league officers. If you have any photos of teams, officers, players etc please use the contact button on the results/fixtures/tables part of the site and we will let you know how you can get them to us. If you can write a short piece about the photo as well it would be appreciated.
 Harold Hammett |
 John Fry |
 William (Bill) Smale |
 Centenary Brochure 2004 - Signed by Peter Osgood |
 75th Anniversary Brochure 1979 |
Mr Albert Beer - President of the North Devon Football League - Tribute to Albert reproduced courtesy of the North Devon Journal
THE DEVON football community has paid tribute to Albert Beer who died last week (16th January 2010). Mr Beer, 91, was president of the Devon County Football Association and the North Devon Journal League. After playing for his local team Appledore prior to the Second World War, he went on to enjoy a long connection with the sport. Mr Beer joined the North Devon League as an independent member in 1955. He was voted on to the Devon FA in 1962 and served for 11 years before returning in 1987, becoming county president in 2005. Bill Smale, his friend and long-time colleague at the North Devon League, has fond memories of a "little man with a heart of gold". In recent years, Mr Smale drove Mr Beer to watch numerous local league and county youth games. "We travelled miles and he always loved talking about football — it was a great passion with Albert," he said. "He had a marvellous memory, going back to his playing days for Appledore. "And of course Albert was like all of us, we loved playing football and we always wish we could play forever." Born in Appledore in 1918, Mr Beer spent more than six years in the army before setting up a painting and decorating business in 1949. Becoming Devon FA president was special for Mr Beer and Mr Smale recalls his reaction at seeing his name written on the wall at the Devon FA headquarters in Newton Abbot. Listed alongside previous presidents, many with letters after their name, Mr Beer showed his down-to-earth sense of humour. "He looked at me and he said Albert Beer PD — painter and decorator," said Bill. "That was Albert" Living for many years in Northam with his wife Florie, the couple had one daughter, Kathryn. In recent years, after Florie died, Mr Beer lived at Kathryn's home just a short walk from Bideford Football Club. But it was trips up the road to Marshford or visits to the smaller North Devon League clubs he enjoyed most. Last April came one of the proudest moments of his presidency when a team from North Devon won the Devon Premier Cup. In one of his last public engagements for the Devon FA, Mr Beer presented the trophy to Boca Seniors after their win against Bovey Tracey at Ladysmead in Tiverton. "He was absolutely delighted because Boca Seniors became the first team from the North Devon League to win it," said Mr Smale. "Although he would be quick to tell you Appledore won the competition several years ago when they were a South Western League side." Former secretary of the North Devon League Philip Shelton paid tribute to an "admirable figure for the League and the FA", describing him as "someone to whom you always turned when you wanted to make sure you were doing things correctly". "The source of knowledge he had is probably still there, but in the heads of three or four other people rather than one," he said. The Devon FA's north area coordinator, Rob Bates, said Mr Beer had always encouraged and advised him when he started out in football administration. "His knowledge and authority on the game in Devon was unrivalled," he said. "It is testament to Albert's involvement over the years how good a position North Devon football is in today." Paul Morrison, chief executive at the Devon FA, said Mr Beer's wealth of knowledge could often settle a dispute. "He spoke very quietly but always attracted people's attention with each word he said," he said. "He reminded me of the old wise owl sitting in the tree observing all that is happening around him. "What was so wonderful about Albert was that he always loved talking to people about football — ranging from the old boys who put up the nets to those who were the big chiefs of professional clubs — and always treated them all with the same enthusiasm." When he closed annual meetings at Newton Abbot, Mr Beer would talk of his pride at being president. Morrison added: "It always brought a tear to his eye as he rejoiced in telling all he had come from being a humble painter and decorator who loved football, to being the president of one of the biggest county Football Associations in the country. "The Devon FA is hurting as we have lost one of our most well-loved men. But we can ease that pain with the lovely memories Albert gave us all."
Mr M Ffoulkes First Chairman of the North Devon Football League
Mr Maurice Ffoulkes, JP, for many years a familiar figure in North Devon Soccer circles, has had a long connection with the game, extending from 1881 to 1925. In 1882 he figured in the Oswestry Wanderers’ team, and in the following year he became connected with Southport, a club which has now turned to the professional game. In 1884 he moved to Waterloo, near Liverpool, and became secretary and treasurer of that club, and on retiring from active participation in soccer he turned to refereeing for the Liverpool League. When Mr Ffoulkes came to North Devon , association football had no firm grasp on the patronage of the public, but with certain other gentlemen, Mr Ffoulkes founded the North Devon League and was appoint its first Chairman. Though many years have passed since the League’s founding, Mr Ffoulkes has always taken a keen and active interest in its working, and there is no doubt that while he is able he will always endeavour to help it. Upon the formation of the present Devon County Football Association, Mr Ffoulkes was elected by the North Devon clubs to act as their representative on that body, and he has been re-elected ever since. This year he is Chairman of the North Devon Area Committee, and has had a very busy term of office, for his committee had the rather difficult and delicate Bideford - Ilfracombe dispute to deal with.
Mr Ffoulkes has resigned all connection with most of the competitions in the district on the grounds of business, but he still retains interest in the Devon Senior Cup. Forty- four years of activity in football surely entitles Mr Ffoulkes to be called a super-enthusiast. He was a member of the committee of the Barnstaple Rugby Club for some time.
