AFTER almost 50 years with the Crediton United AFC former chairman and now Honorary Life Member, Dave Blanchford, has decided to retire from his position on the club committee. Dave joined the club in his early 20's, following a successful early football playing career with Cullompton Rangers and then  a spell at near neighbours Sandford. As club captain Dave led the Crediton United First team to win the Senior Division One Championship in 1966-7. A few years later in 1970-71 he was captain of the reserves team which won the Junior Two Championship. Whilst still playing Dave was a influential member of the club committee at the time the club moved from Newcombes Meadow to Lords Meadow at the start of the 1976-77 season. Dave has played a big part in the development of the club and through the subsequent years always with a masterful knack of raising funds for the club from nearly every source imaginable. The three years in the Premier Division of the Western League will probably go down as his most enjoyable. For the majority of his time as a non playing member of the club Dave has been it's chairman, a position which he held until a few years ago. Early in 2013  Dave had a successful heart by pass operation, from which he has now fully recovered. Now in his mid 70's Dave feels that his health is his prime consideration and has decided therefore to stand down from his position as a member of the club's management committee. He still intends to help the club whenever he is able and for the time being continue as a contact for people seeking club function bookings. Dave said: "Over the last 20 years I have been involved in a lot of fundraising, instigating events such as Cow Pat, music nights, garden fetes and clay shoots and even had my head shaved to raise funds for the club. "I think my proudest moment, other than when Bill Ash asked me to be chairman of Crediton United, was when myself and the then committee went to Taunton town and I had to sell the club to 40 other Western League clubs and we came out on top with votes cast – a wonderful day for our club. "I would like to thank Rex Rosario, our club president, for the last 15 years,  for all the help he and his company Graphic Plc have given the club financially as well as his advice on fundraising. "I wish the club all the very best for the future – there will be tough times ahead, but tough decisions will have to be made." The club would like to wish  Dave all the best for his forthcoming hospital visit and that he is soon up and about again "belting around in his little blue pickup" and be fit enough for a few summer weeks in the sun at his apartment in Spain with his wife, Monica. By the time the new season starts in mid August the club  hope that he will be fully recovered and able to come and relax watching games with his friends at Lords Meadow and his many friends around the Mid Devon Football circuit.