Royal salute for Nash hero

Curzon Ashton's Chief Executive Harry Twamley believes all the volunteers and staff at the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League club deserve a medal after the Football Association announced that he's been chosen to receive a royal honour.

Twamley is one of 150 Grassroots Heroes set to be honoured by HRH The Duke of Cambridge for their 'outstanding contribution to grassroots football' at Buckingham Palace. The event, which forms a key part of The FA’s 150th anniversary celebrations, will entail an official ceremony with the Nash official and other recipients being awarded a specially minted medal.

Buckingham Palace's garden will also host its first ever football match, featuring two of the oldest amateur clubs in England, after the ceremony. The game, an official Southern Amateur League fixture, will see the Civil Service FC, the sole surviving club from the XI that met to create The FA in 1863, take on Polytechnic FC, which was formed in 1875.

After receiving special permission from Buckingham Palace, Wembley groundsman Tony Stones is now working with the Royal Household's gardeners to help create the pitch for what will be the most unique grassroots football match in the 150 year history of the game.

A delighted Twamley would probably like to take everybody from the First Division North club with him to the event on Monday 7 October and said: "I am delighted with this award [and] not just for me as I regard it as an award for all of the people who work so hard and voluntarily for Curzon Ashton Football Club. Without all of these people we would not have achieved what we have so far and also what we are about to achieve in the future."

The FA say the volunteers have all been chosen for their outstanding contribution and service to football in a range of areas from helping to develop the women’s game to providing opportunities for disabled players, grassroots referees and club and league administrators. The game's governing body estimates that nationally there are more than 40,000 grassroots heroes made up of mums and dads, coaches, referees, officials and administrators involved in football every week.

HRH The Duke of Cambridge, President of The Football Association, said: "In our 150th year, it is hugely important for The FA to honour the efforts of the many thousands of volunteers who week in, week out, help to provide the opportunity for millions more people to enjoy football at grassroots level. Inviting 150 of these volunteers to Buckingham Palace provides a fitting way for The FA to pay tribute and give thanks."

FA Chairman Greg Dyke added: "These volunteers are the heartbeat of football. Without them, the game simply wouldn’t function at a grassroots level and it is only right that The FA honours their tireless and selfless work. We are delighted that, in his role as President of The FA, HRH The Duke of Cambridge has given his support to this initiative – even going as far as arranging for the first ever game of football to be played at Buckingham Palace in honour of our grassroots heroes."

To learn more about The FA’s work and volunteering, visit: www.TheFA.com/TakePart