New year honour for youth football league founder

The founder of Lincolnshire's biggest youth football league has been recognised in the King's New Year Honours.

Ronald Westerman, who launched the Mid Lincs County Youth League in 1986, has been awarded an MBE for services to sport over nearly 60 years.

The 86-year-old from Lincoln initially thought the letter was a scam. When he looked at it again he was "shocked to say the least".

Mr Westerman, who played non-league football for Lincoln United, is among a number of people from across Lincolnshire who are included on the honours list.

He began his involvement in youth football when he realised two local leagues were struggling.

At the time, he was a sports manager at Birchwood Leisure Centre, but took on the role of chairman of the new league in his spare time. Since then, it has grown from 75 teams to 480.

"I love seeing kids enjoying themselves," Mr Westerman said. "People will stop me now, people I don't recognise, and say, 'I can remember when you took me here'. I get a lot of satisfaction from that.

"I have people coming up to me and telling me that their grandfather played for me."

A number of other people from Lincolnshire have been named on the honours list. They include:

• Kerry-Anne Cooper, from Alford, who has been appointed MBE for her work as a police chaplain.
• Raymond William Newell, the managing director of Oakwell Management Services, who has become an MBE for services to industry in the Midlands.
• Robert Adams, of Crowle, who has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his services to wildlife protection, including as the former chairman of Spurn Bird Observatory Trust.
• Jonathan Compton and Veronica Mary Compton, both chaplaincy volunteers at HM Prison Morton Hall, who have been given BEMs for their services to HM Prison and Probation Service.
• Dr Peter John Dawson, of Lincoln, who has been awarded a BEM for his services to the community.
• Margaret Wilkinson, who has been given a BEM for her services in the community in Holton-Le-Clay.
• Colin Woodford, the chairman and facilitator at North East Lincolnshire Disability Sports Forum, who has been awarded a BEM for his services to disabled people and the community.
• Chris Haward, the former chief constable of Lincolnshire Police, receives the King's Police Medal for his distinguished service to policing.

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