At our June 2026 AGM Peter Duffy stepped down as our League Secretary after 26 years running the league's affairs, and also from our committee some 44 years after joining.
With a great deal of prompting, because he is a modest man, Peter Duffy was persuaded by Alan Thompson to offer this resumé of his chequered ‘football autobiography’ for the book commissioned to celebrate 125 years of the Lancashire Amateur League.
“I first started playing football in 1966 for my junior school, St John’s in Radcliffe and managed to get to a final against St. Mary’s which we lost 2-0. During that season 65-66 I was fortunate enough to be selected for the Town Team. I played centre half for St. John’s and was goalkeeper for the Radcliffe Town Team.
I attended Whitefield Secondary (Albert Road) and was selected for all years from 1st Year through to the 5th Year and again was fortunate to be selected for the Senior Town Team to play at Centre Half (5).
I signed Associate Schoolboy forms for Bury FC in 1968 aged 13, moving on in 1970, disappointed to be released. I played a season with Salford Celtic in the Eccles League before they folded due to lack of players.
I then got the chance to play for my hometown club Radcliffe Amateurs in 1972, and the rest is history as they say.
I have been with the club for 52 years in total and in that time have been a player, team manager (1st, 2nd and 3rd teams), Club Secretary and Assistant Secretary, Club Treasurer and for the last 23 years have been Club President.
I took up refereeing in 1987 due to a severe knee injury and achieved my Class One award within 4 years. Unfortunately the knee problems continued and I had to turn my hand to the administrating side of the game.
In 1982 I was elected to the League Council of the Lancashire Amateur League taking on the roles of Disciplinary Secretary, Assistant Treasurer and in 1998 Assistant League Secretary. My biggest mistake was to agree to become Assistant League Secretary under the guidance of my dear friend Ron Bowker. I was never told that in three years’ time I would be asked to take over the position of League Secretary! In 1997 I was honoured to be made the President of the Lancashire Amateur League."
Now that Peter has stepped down, he will be able to spend more time with his family and grandchildren, watch Bury Football Club and hopefully continue to venture to LAL games as he has done for so many years. Our league and the game as a whole thanks one of the greatest volunteers over the past 5 decades and wish him well in his sporting retirement.
With best wishes from your friends at the Lancashire Amateur League.
With a great deal of prompting, because he is a modest man, Peter Duffy was persuaded by Alan Thompson to offer this resumé of his chequered ‘football autobiography’ for the book commissioned to celebrate 125 years of the Lancashire Amateur League.
“I first started playing football in 1966 for my junior school, St John’s in Radcliffe and managed to get to a final against St. Mary’s which we lost 2-0. During that season 65-66 I was fortunate enough to be selected for the Town Team. I played centre half for St. John’s and was goalkeeper for the Radcliffe Town Team.
I attended Whitefield Secondary (Albert Road) and was selected for all years from 1st Year through to the 5th Year and again was fortunate to be selected for the Senior Town Team to play at Centre Half (5).
I signed Associate Schoolboy forms for Bury FC in 1968 aged 13, moving on in 1970, disappointed to be released. I played a season with Salford Celtic in the Eccles League before they folded due to lack of players.
I then got the chance to play for my hometown club Radcliffe Amateurs in 1972, and the rest is history as they say.
I have been with the club for 52 years in total and in that time have been a player, team manager (1st, 2nd and 3rd teams), Club Secretary and Assistant Secretary, Club Treasurer and for the last 23 years have been Club President.
I took up refereeing in 1987 due to a severe knee injury and achieved my Class One award within 4 years. Unfortunately the knee problems continued and I had to turn my hand to the administrating side of the game.
In 1982 I was elected to the League Council of the Lancashire Amateur League taking on the roles of Disciplinary Secretary, Assistant Treasurer and in 1998 Assistant League Secretary. My biggest mistake was to agree to become Assistant League Secretary under the guidance of my dear friend Ron Bowker. I was never told that in three years’ time I would be asked to take over the position of League Secretary! In 1997 I was honoured to be made the President of the Lancashire Amateur League."
Now that Peter has stepped down, he will be able to spend more time with his family and grandchildren, watch Bury Football Club and hopefully continue to venture to LAL games as he has done for so many years. Our league and the game as a whole thanks one of the greatest volunteers over the past 5 decades and wish him well in his sporting retirement.
With best wishes from your friends at the Lancashire Amateur League.
