FROM fixing doors to holding the role of chairman and club president, Albert Lant has seen it all at Concord Rangers over the years.

And now his efforts have been recognised after being awarded the unsung hero gong at The Non-League Paper’s National Game Awards in association with SCL.

Originally a boys club, Lant took Concord into competitive football for the first time in 1967, before managing the team in their formative years when his son Steve was in the squad.

A move to Saturday football soon followed and the club climbed up to the Essex Senior League with Lant overseeing the promotions as chairman before retiring from the position in 1991.

He then became club president – a post the 93-year-old still holds today with the Beach Boys now a National League South side.

And current chairman Antony Smith was delighted to see his close friend gain recognition, as he picked up the award on his behalf at the home of the new English champions, Chelsea.

“I nominated Albert for the award early in the season, and thankfully he was accepted by the National League and we’ve been able to come down to Stamford Bridge for the awards,” said Smith.

“Albert founded Concord Rangers 50 years ago this year, so I thought it was about time to put him up for the award after all the years of service.

“Fifty years ago he started up a side, which has come through all the Sunday leagues and all the local leagues around Essex, right through to the Conference South so it’s a great journey.

“He’s been very hands-on over the years, not so much now as he’s in his 90s, but I remember him being at the club and fixing doors and doing everything at the club.

“That’s exactly what a non-league club needs, people to help out every week.

“You need it kept tidy, the pitch needs to be done and there are other duties with turnstiles, he is what every club needs.”

After a tricky season on the pitch, Concord ended the campaign in 18th place in the National League South division.

And Smith and the whole club – Lant included – are determined to bounce back in style next time around.

“This season has been our hardest for a few years, we’ve been used to success but this year we’ve battled against relegation and managed to stay in there,” he added.

“For a club of our size it’s what you hope you can expect, and next year we’ll hope to come back stronger. “The standard of football is excellent.

“It’s very tough and we saw in the National League play-off final between Forest Green Rovers and Tranmere Rovers that the level of football was to a very high standard.

“We finished in the top 10 the year before so it would be nice to push towards that. We had a bad start last season so we need a better start and a couple of cup runs would be nice.

“But we can enjoy a few weeks off now.”

*SCL are a government approved post-16 education provider in the sports sector who run Academy programmes with over 60 football, rugby and cricket, professional and grass roots sports clubs, foundations and community trusts. Find out more at wearescl.co.uk/education.