WHEN the Southend Borough Combination Veterans League charity night was held at the Hollywood Restaurant, Benfleet, a special presentation was made to one of non-league soccer's most endearing characters, Ron Hanley.

One-time Basildon United boss Hanley, who celebrates his 65th birthday later this month, has led veteran side Ford Basildon to 17 trophy-winning honours during his six years in charge.

The award also marked his service to the league.

A cheque for £2,500 was presented to Little Havens Hospice representative Hilary Metcalfe, who is a community fundraiser for the charity.

Also a £250 cheque was presented to Colin and Carmen Staines who collected on behalf of ROSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) after their son James Staines was killed in a road accident last year at the age of 16.

The cheque for Little Havens comprised money collected from the Veterans League annual Charity Cup Competition and a golf day held last month.

The golf day was organised by Leisure Link on behalf of the Veterans League and league officers were glad to have ex-Southend United and Charlton Athletic player Garry Nelson and his partner Tracey present.

They organised the whole golf day with Leisure Links' Doug Fisher, who could not be present on the night.

The £250 presented to the Staines was raised after Brian Jarvis and Dave Jones of Milton Athletic organised a Division Two v Junior representative match.

Chris Avis and Steve Robinson, of Leigh Ramblers, and the League Management Committee also helped organise the match last March.

The league were joined by its president Sir Teddy Taylor and ex-England and England under-21 manager Peter Taylor, who presented the cheques along with league management committee members.

Taylor, who has just taken over as manager of Blue Square Premier club Stevenage Borough, is a former Southend Veterans league player who has been a staunch supporter of the competition over the years.