Page 19 - Avonmouth FC v Frampton Utd 170224

Today’s match ball sponsors are two Avonmouth FC Life Members, ex-players and
outstanding long time committee men, Des Villis (left) and Paul Brown (right).

Des was a goalkeeper and initially took over the role of junior team secretary from
Bert Britton when back in the 1960s the club ran two successful youth sides that
were very much the academy route into the senior sides. Back in those days lads
only ever played for their local side and that was Avonmouth St Andrews. When
Bert retired after 45 years as secretary and treasurer Des took on the job of club
secretary and in 1968 won the Bristol & Suburban League Tom Pitts Memorial
Award for the league’s outstanding club secretary. It wasn’t long before the
Suburban League invited Des onto their management committee as registration
secretary and his organisational prowess was soon recognised by the
Gloucestershire FA and he became a Councillor and ended his executive
management career as President of the Bristol & Suburban League.
Paul was a central defender and started his playing career with Waring House FC
(Redcliffe) and then for Conham Rangers. Paul also played for the Port of Bristol
Police Sunday side on the old PBA ground, now the home of Manor Farm. Paul was
only ever cautioned once and his nickname became Two Pound, the amount of his
GFA fine. As a trained first aider he came to the help of the Hengrove Athletic
goalkeeper who had fractured his femur during a game. Thanks to his expert
knowledge of how to stabilise the serious injury and by using kit found in the
dressing room, the injured keeper was taken safely off the ground. According to
the hospital doctor, Paul’s actions speeded up his recovery and he was able to walk
down the church isle six weeks later with his new bride. Paul was invited to the
wedding and the story of his leg saving actions featured in the Bristol local press.
Paul eventually retired from playing at the age of 43 but had taken over the
treasurer’s role and steered the club through many difficult years before the club
returned to Avonmouth Road in 1986, and enjoying the financial benefits of a club
bar. At the new ground Paul was always down early on match days ensuring the
ground was tidy, litter less and free of dog mess.