THE secretary of Tavistock Football Club has decided to stand down after more than four years in the post. Eric Pinch, who has also served the club as past chairman, vice-chairman and commercial manager, has been associated with the club for the past 12 years. He said he would be be standing down as secretary at the end of the playing season due to work commitments and for personal reasons. His involvement included supplying game reports to the Times, helping with the ground maintenance and selling programmes. Mr Pinch, aged 60, told the Times: 'Tavistock Football Club has been a great part of my life for the last 12 years and still will be in some capacity. 'I'm not from Tavy, I'm a Cornishman, but since I've been here I've try to embrace the place and be part of the community.' Apart from voluntary services with the club, he is also a past chairman of Tavistock Athletic Club and drove the Tavistock community bus. His love of football saw him play as a young man for his home village of Indian Queens in Cornwall before he left to serve in the Royal Navy. He also refereed for many years. Mr Pinch, joined the Prison Service in 1978 and is retired from public service but now runs Yelverton Cars. Both his wife Gill and daughter Nadine are also associated with Tavistock FC and Eric says he will continue to help out there and still has 'a long list of jobs' to do. Derek Pethick, the club chairman and friend of the secretary, praised Eric's contribution to the club. He told the Times: 'We are not surprised because Eric did make his intentions clear at the last club annual meeting that he was going to stand down at the end of the season. 'Eric has been a very good servant to Tavistock Football Club over many years and I would, as chairman, like to thank him for the great effort he has put in and wish him good luck for the future. 'However life goes on for the club and if there is somebody who would like to be our new secretary at the end of this season then please contact us.'
