Football: Warrington & District Football League honours for St Michael’s Ditton Hall manager Ronnie Hough and Halton Borough secretary David Gates

Jun 25 2009 by Dave Bettley, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

WIDNES’ Ronnie Hough has received a special award for services to the Warrington & District Football League.

The stalwart former player and now long-serving manager of St Michael’s Ditton Hall FC was congratulated on his achievements during the league’s annual presentations at the Holiday Inn in Runcorn.

“I was a little bit surprised,” he said. “We don’t think of things like that and don’t do things for awards.

“You see people getting awards you think good luck to them.

“When one comes your way it’s very nice. You say to yourself, ‘Hang on a minute, you only get them when you’re knocking on a bit!’

“But it’s nice to be appreciated and not necessarily by your own club or town.”

Hough, one of only four first-team managers at the Mike’s in their 42 seasons, has over the last two years also managed the Widnes representative side in matches against FC Marzahn 94 from Halton’s German twin town Marzahn Hellersdorf.

“I have now played for, captained and managed the town which in itself feels fabulous,” he added.

Halton Borough FC’s David Gates completed a personal double and a treble for his club by scooping Warrington & District’s secretary-of-the-year title.

Gates first won the accolade in 2005-06 and Borough’s now chairman Mick Millea lifted the same secretarial award 10 years before that.

Other Widnes recipients at the league dinner included division four’s top scorer Jeff Gleave, whose 30 goals for Avon Athletic Reserves went a long way to making them champions ahead of runners-up and neighbours St Marie’s.

Division Three also witnessed a Widnes one-two with Avon’s first team taking the title from second-placed Village Social. Cronton’s Ford Reserves came second in Division One while Moorfield 3rd were Widnes’ most-successful knockout team as Ryland’s Cup runners-up to Villa Rainhill.