Marine chairman recognised at Pride of Sefton Awards

Leary won the Unsung Hero Award at The Grand, Southport, during an event celebrating community figures from across the local area.

His affiliation with the club began in 1964 as a fan, before he went on to set up the Marine Supporters Association in 1970.

A role on the club's management committee followed in 1978, with Leary stepping up to be club chairman in 2004.

He remains in his current position to this day and has overseen a number of historic occasions - including their FA Cup third round tie against Tottenham Hotspur in January 2021, and more recently their promotion to the National League North earlier this week.

The club have twice been crowned National Community Club of the Year during Leary's tenure, and he has also played a pivotal role in raising over £1 million to support redevelopments at the ground and supporting the growth of the club's work across the local area through Marine In The Community.

Paying tribute to his efforts, Marine CEO James Leary said:
“Paul has never taken a wage. He has dedicated his whole life to serving Marine Football Club and the local community.

“His passion and his life has been to support a fantastic community club in any way that he can.

“For the last 19 years he has served as chairman. However, even though his roles and responsibilities have changed over the years, he still spends seven days per week at the club doing anything and everything he can.

“From talks to groups to support the reduction of knife crime, helping to run a weekly Sunday social with a bingo for the elderly, presenting awards at football tournaments, climbing ladders to change the fixtures board, going to the club every week to tidy litter from the ground and wiping down seats, doing all of the clubs accounts. You name it - if there is a job to be done at Marine, he has done it.

“His achievements for his club and his community, and the scale of his achievements will never be equalled.”

Photo credit: Kevin Brown Photography