A TRUE 'supporter' of Tavistock Football Club in every sense of the word celebrated his 70th birthday in style with family and friends at the Red and Black Club. Derek Pethick, who has been associated with the club for more than 50 years, was given a surprise party by his family and joined by many footballing colleagues. In his time Derek, who started playing for TAFC when he was just 14 years-old, has served as player, manager, committee member, club treasurer, groundsman and self confessed 'general dogsbody' for the club he loves. For many seasons, the versatile Derek has also written the Lambs' match reports Times. When Tavistock AFC?entertained Plymouth Argyle at Langsford Park recently he stayed up into the early hours to meet the deadline so the match report was available for that week's newspaper. His birthday is not the only important milestone for Derek as next March he will also celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary with wife Yvonne. The couple have two children, Robbie and Jackie. Robbie obviously caught the 'football bug' from his father — being a former professional himself having played for Tavistock before becoming a Plymouth Argyle apprentice and going to play for Bristol Rovers, Brighton and Portsmouth. Lambs' keeper Andy Meeds, who has played for the club for more than 25 years, said of Derek: 'I have known Derek since he was 11 and grew up playing alongside his son Robbie. 'Derek, along with others, has been the backbone of the club over the years and people just don't know the amount of work he has done behind the scenes. I can only say that Derek, apart from being a nice guy, puts his heart and soul into the club.' Club chairman Chris Fenner was also full of praise for Derek. He said:?'I have known Derek pretty much my whole life, watching him come and go from our home armed with paperwork during my parents' time within the administration of our club. During that time, Derek's commitment to Tavistock AFC has been unwavering. 'Derek lives and breathes Tavistock AFC and, this year, celebrates his 50th year of involvement with the Lambs, from the early 60s as a strong player in a strong side, right the way through to the present day, having managed, chaired, accounted, reported and mowed the pitch for us. In short, our most loyal, passionate and longest serving officer. 'Although you'll never hear him boast of it, I'd like to think that history will remember Derek fondly as the Tavistock AFC chairman who played a significant role in ensuring that the disparate footballing elements in Tavistock could unite under a single banner in order to achieve the funding neeed to create a Community Football Club. 'Derek's deter-mination as part of a small, yet committed group of volunteers has ensured that the town will benefit from a 999 year lease on the land at Crowndale for footballing purposes and the finest Community footballing setup this side of Bristol. No finer legacy could a man ask for. 'I just hope that he doesn't get any silly ideas to leave us any time soon as there is still plenty of work to be done!'