THE Screwfix Direct League are to recycle two of their old trophies after deciding it was time to recognise the hospitality shown by member clubs in its own right.
The Alan Young trophy and the Wilf Escott trophy will be presented at the end of this season to the clubs that treat people the best on match days in the Screwfix Premier League and First Division respectively.
Previously the only recognition of hospitality came in the form of the Merit Cup, which also recognised the discipline of the players, but there will now be two separate awards for sportsmanship and hospitality.
League secretary Ken Clarke said: "The reason we are changing it is that we didn't think it was fair that it was all judged together.
"Someone could have had great hospitality but their players could ruin it by their behaviour on the pitch. It could also work the other way, as the players could be impeccably behaved but the treatment off the pitch could spoil it.
"There will now be four cups. The Merit cups will be awarded for sportsmanship based solely on discipline, while the Alan Young and Wilf Escott trophies will be based solely on hospitality.
"More and more the matter of hospitality has become important. Long gone are the days when we went to football and there were no facilities. Now clubs have got good facilities and work extremely hard.
"We are trying to encourage those clubs that struggle with hospitality to have a look at their fellow clubs and see what they do."
The awards will be based on points awarded by visiting teams during the season and also from observations by Western League officials.
The Alan Young trophy used to be used as the Western League Combination cup and was last presented in 1979/80. Mr Young was a past chairman of the league in the 1970s and lived in Trowbridge.
Wilf Escott, from Chippenham, was a past treasurer of the league and his trophy was last used in 2000/01 as a merit cup for the Western League.
Clarke admits he does not know a lot about the two men.
He said: "Because we have no contact with either of their families we know little about their history.
"If anyone knows anything about them or know how we could get in contact with their families then we would be eager to hear."
Anybody with information can contact him on (01249) 464467.
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