A football fanatic has been honoured for dedicating more than 50 years of his life to the sport. 

Bill Moore, 68, has been awarded the Football Association Long Service to Football Award for his decades of service to the game.

Married father of two and grandfather of one Bill, who lives in West End, has enjoyed roles as a player, coach, manager, chairman and official at various Hampshire clubs since the 1970s.

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Football also led him to a 30-year career in lecturing at Solent University and the University of Portsmouth, in various subjects including business management and marketing.

Bill told the Daily Echo: "I just love the game. I think I'm fortunate (or unfortunate some would say) that I had a real childhood enthusiasm for football and I've maintained it all these years.

"There have been highlights and disappointments, but I've always had job satisfaction.

"When I was playing I didn't think about management. But I took training one day, enjoyed it and went from there. I'd happily coach anybody and it's opened lots of doors for me."

Bill, whose father Bill made one Saints appearance and was capped for Wales and brother David played for Saints and Pompey's youth teams, began his senior playing career in 1970 at the age of 15 for Harland & Wolf.

Bill went on to play for Winchester City (1975-77), Cowes Sports (1977), Portals (1978), Ringwood Town (1978-79), Fareham Town (1980) and Alton Town (1980-81).

He coached Gosport & Fareham youth in the Hampshire youth league (1982-85) and Bognor Regis Youth (1985/86) and became manager/coach of Hampshire FA Under - 18s (1983-87) and Hampshire FA Senior representative team (1987-91).

Bill enjoyed three separate spells at Sholing Sports (1985- 86, 87-88 and 91-92), Follands (1988-89), Alresford Town (1992 – 93), Bashley (1993-94), Fareham Town (1995 – 1997 and 1998 - 2001) , Havant Town (1997-98), Eastleigh (2001 -2002) and Blackfield & Langley (2003-2004).

He did not receive a single booking or sending off during his career, always making his feelings known politely. 

Bill worked for Southampton Football Club, running a weekly coaching operation in Thornhill, and was also chairman of university side Team Solent.

He holds several roles on the Velocity Wessex League Management Board and is a member of the Hampshire FA Male Pathway Panel.