YORK City and District Football Association president Arnold Myers's 54-year contribution to his sport has earned official recognition.

He received York and District Sports Council's Service to Sport Award from the Lord Mayor of York, Coun Shan Braund, at the Mansion House last night.

The annual award is presented to recognise the huge amount of work and service which people put into their particular sport.

In a fortnight he will be at Leeds City Hall where he will be in with a chance of winning the Service to Sport Award for Yorkshire.

Retired banker Myers has been an officer with the York FA for over 30 years and was elected president of the organisation in 1995.

Educated at St Peter's School, where he was an outstanding rugby union player, he returned to his first love of football in 1951 after completing his National Service with the RAF. He has been involved in local football ever since.

He was a player and secretary with Heslington and Fulford United football and cricket clubs consecutively before taking up refereeing in 1959 after a mortorcycle accident shattered his hand.

He was a Yorkshire League referee for 10 years and was promoted to a Northern Premier League referee when that league was formed in 1969. He was a Football League linesman for five years.

From 1965 to 1971 he was the referees' appointments secretary for the York and District Amateur League.

Thirty years ago he was appointed York FA Council secretary in succession to Harry Railton and took over as treasurer from Norman Knowles eight years later.

He is a life vice-president of North Riding FA and chairman of its York area disciplinary commission.

He said: "In York we try to keep a sense of sportsmanship and discipline in the game. Sometimes I am appalled at what goes on in the Premier League with referees under fire from players."

Updated: 10:59 Saturday, February 03, 2001