KEITH PEEL Roger Howlett has brought an era to an end with his decision to step down as Norfolk County Football Association chief executive. The move comes 24 years after he joined the NCFA council when elected as the representative for Saturday associate clubs for south Norfolk.

KEITH PEEL

Roger Howlett has brought an era to an end with his decision to step down as Norfolk County Football Association chief executive.

The move comes 24 years after he joined the NCFA council when elected as the representative for Saturday associate clubs for south Norfolk.

He will continue to be Norfolk FA's representative on the national Football Association council, and remains a director of the limited company which Norfolk FA became in 1999.

“Roger has been an exceptional servant to local football,” said a statement issued by chief executive Shaun Turner on behalf of the Norfolk FA board of directors and council members.

“Over the past 11 years, he has led the Norfolk County FA with drive, passion, determination and steel, but most importantly he has led the association from the front.

“Every decision he has made or any initiative he has driven for implementation by committee or by the board has had one common value. The initiative in question would have the best interests of the association at heart, ensuring as a governing body, decisions were made for the betterment of grass roots football within Norfolk.

“Because of this exceptional attitude, Roger has become a highly respected figurehead in grassroots football, not just locally in Norfolk, but also nationally with the English Football Association.

“During his reign, Roger has moved the association forward a long way and he has left us in an extremely stable position.

“Infrastructures are in place which should ensure grassroots football continues to develop in Norfolk for a number of years to come.”

During the 13 years after he joined the NBCFA council, Howlett fulfilled a number of officer roles, including honorary assistant secretary, honorary referees' secretary, and deputy secretary. In 1995 he became the honorary general secretary of the association.

In 1996 new initiatives and funding support from the FA led to the association becoming administered by a small team of paid employees, with Howlett at the helm, appointed as the first full-time secretariat in that year.

In 1998 he was made a life member of the association to recognise his exceptional and distinguished service.

In August, 1999, the association became a limited company with support from the FA, which has provided increased money to support staff and initiatives.

This developed into a working partnership, allowing the county body to develop grassroots football throughout Norfolk. Later the same year, Howlett was appointed as chief executive and company secretary of Norfolk County FA.

During the 1999-2000 season, he became Norfolk FA's representative on the Football Association council.