Four men who have given years of service to soccer have been honoured by the Gwent County Football Association, presenting them with Football Association of Wales long-service awards.

They were presented with the medals by Peter Rees, Football Association of Wales vice-president at a dinner held at the Parc Golf Club, Coedkernew, to mark the installation of new president Peter Aston, who received the chain of office from retiring president Glyn Jones.

And Mr. Aston was also one of the quartet to receive long-service awards, the others being Cliff Bethel who is chairman of Tredegar Town, the Motaquote Insurance Welsh League club and Eddie Anthony from Caerleon along with Graham Reynolds,. who is a also a member of the Gwent FA.

Mr Reynolds was deputy headmaster at Hartridge Comprehensive School, Newport, before taking early retirement. Prior to his promotion he was head of the lower school.

He has served local football for 45 years, including secretary of the Gwent County FA Youth League and has been chairman and vice-chairman of the Gwent FA.

The 66-year-old was a sporting all rounder, a soccer player with Newport County, Lovells Athletic and was capped by Wales at amateur level on 14 occasions and is a life member of three organisations - the Gwent Schools, Welsh Schools and Gwent County FA. He was also capped by his country at cricket, captaining them against Ireland.

Mr. Anthony, who could not attend the ceremony, has been very much a one-club man, serving Caerleon as a committee member, vice-chairman, chairman and secretary. He was also a prominent Caerleon cricketer.

Mr Bethel was firstly as chairman of Troedrhiwgwair from 1961-65 and then formed Rhyd Boys Club, serving them as chairman before a name change to Tredegar Town in 1980 and he has been their chairman throughout.

And this season the Welsh League club have moved to a new ground in the town which will soon be officially opened with the visit of a Cardiff City team.

For Mr Aston it was a double celebration - a long-service award and becoming president of the Gwent County FA.

He started in 1964 with Underwood for almost a decade and then served on the East Gwent League, then Newport and District from 1974 to the present date. He has been with the Gwent County FA since the same year.

He has been vice chairman and chairman and is the disciplinary officer.

Glyn Jones, retiring president, was presented with a whisky decanter to mark his three years.

Terry Challenger, from the Knauf Insulation Gwent Central League, was awarded life membership of the Gwent County FA, and new Gwent County FA members Ray Griffiths, Gwent Central League, and Gary Maddicks of the Monmouthshire Building Society Newport and District League, were presented with ties and badges.