Dave Law was one of Trafford FC’s four founding members in 1990 and has witnessed their transformation during his 34 years at the club.
Law, 72, is now a director and helps out where possible, be it selling golden goal tickets on matchdays, writing match reports or putting up posters around the local area to advertise matches.
He said: “All there was when we came to the ground was a pitch and a changing room.
“The ground has developed tremendously: stands, a perimeter wall around the ground, and floodlights. It has just taken off brilliantly the club.”
Dave Law was one of the founding members of @FCTrafford in 1990 and remains heavily involved with the club today! pic.twitter.com/Lzo4hp0Zo3
— Pitching In (@PitchingIn_) November 9, 2024
Law is one of the club’s army of volunteers who give up their time to keep the club running, and the director is determined to continue the club’s upward trajectory on and off the pitch.
“One of the main aims is to get a decent clubhouse, as we have a portacabin basically,” he added. “Plans are in progress.
“The key is to have the right people to know the various funding procedures and we have now got them on board.”
It is now easier than ever to get involved and volunteer at your local non-league club thanks to Pitching In's Volunteer Hub, which allows clubs to advertise roles online.
And on the pitch, Law is only looking upwards for the Pitching In Northern Premier League Division One West side.
He said: “We would like to get in the Premier Division of the NPL, then after that its National League North.
“It's all about money really, you need the funding to progress.”
Law became the first manager of the team in 1990, after he set up the club alongside David Brown, John Harrison, and Bill Whitten.
They joined the Mid-Cheshire League Division Two and Law guided them to promotion in the club’s inaugural season.
Hello from the Shawe View Stadium for @FCTrafford vs @WythenshaweFC pic.twitter.com/MQxkuhC8ny
— Pitching In (@PitchingIn_) November 9, 2024
In 1991/92 they joined the North-West Counties League Division Two and won promotion in 1994.
Law said his proudest managerial achievement came in 1997 when they won the North West Counties League and reached the final of the Manchester Senior Cup.
He stepped down in December 1998 after eight and a half years in charge, because his job as the director of sport at Ashton on Mersey school meant he had to be in school on Saturday mornings.
Law said: “It was very difficult time-wise and had to pack in as manager because of my job.
“With all the travelling and time commitments, I couldn’t continue as manager, but I stayed involved and have been ever since.”
Find volunteering opportunities at your local club by visiting https://pitchinginvolunteers.co.uk/
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here