Soccer stalwart wins top community award

LYMM Rover’s stalwart Rob Carlin, was the deserving winner of Lymm Rotary club’s annual Cyril Bell Award for services to the community.
Even being run over by a double decker bus at the age of four while playing football in the road didn’t dent Rob’s enthusiasm for the game.
For the last 12 years Rob has selflessly given up his spare time to Lymm Rovers Junior Football club, which has over 300 active members between the ages of 5 and 18. He has been instrumental in the growth of the club and helped to build it into what it is today.
He pioneered the initial organisation of a Saturday Soccer School for reception children. This provides a vehicle to bring new players into the club and usually produces two teams a year to enter the local football leagues.
Over the years Rob has managed many football teams, giving up his time for both weekly training sessions and matches regardless of the weather or personal commitments. Currently he manages two club teams. He has also acted as Club Secretary for many years, recently relinquishing the role to spend more time as team manager.
Above all else, he is an inspiration to many young football players in the Lymm area, not only encouraging them to develop and grow into well-rounded footballers but also teaching them to widen the benefits of being a team player and respect and support each other no matter what the outcome.
Rob’s sponsor for the Award was Joanne Horne, whose son plays for the club’s Under 10’s Dynamites, who said of him, “He cares deeply about the children and the club and always puts himself out to help and support wherever it is needed.”
At a recent Ladies’ Night, held at Statham Lodge Hotel, Lymm Rotary club’s President, Mike Boothman, (pictured above right) presented Rob with The Cyril Bell Trophy – a cut glass Rose Bowl – a framed certificate and a cheque for £500 made out to Rob’s chosen charity, Macmillan Nurses.
At the same meeting the club’s President Elect, Neville Davies, (pictured below) presented Sharon Cannell, a member of St Rocco’s Fund Raising Team, with a cheque for £3,000, the proceeds of a concert organised by the club at the Parr Hall earlier in the year.