When it comes to loyalty & dedication to Ibis Football,without doubt Frank Routledge must be the first name on this page.Frank became secratary of the club a few years ago in 1950 when he was a draughtsman at Ibis Works,I suppose being secratary in those days didn't involve all the red tape & paperwork encountered nowadays but not many people had telephones & cars then,so getting in touch with people + getting to matches was much more difficult.The photo on the left was taken in year 2000 & shows Frank(on the left!!) being presented with a momento from the club in appreciation of 50 years service.Frank was also club linesman for all these years untill I managed to drag the flag off him & give it to Alan Gilpin,but any time Alan is unavailable Frank is only too willing to run the line as the right hand photo taken in August 2005 shows.Anyone who knows Frank will think of a mild mannered,calm person who never gets upset,well,I recall a day at Penrith about 15 years ago,we were drawing 1-1 against Eden Athletic,with about 5 minutes to go the ball was kicked over our defence to an Eden forward who was well offside,up went Franks flag,play on says the ref as the player rounds our keeper to score.Frank still has the flag up"I may aswell not be here if you're not going to take any notice"he says,"he was not offside"the ref tells him "poppycock"Frank replies"you're off"anounces the ref as Frank sticks the flag about 6inches into the ground & marches round the pitch,head held high in his famous green running wellies,(but still never swore).Franks service to Ibis FC has been invaluable,whether secretary,treasurer,linesman & speechmaker(who could forget the "person" in a woodpile speech in 2004),long may it continue Frank,a true legend.