A stalwart of Musselburgh Windsor Football Club who has “touched thousands of lives” has won a top accolade for a quarter of a century of volunteering.

John Hood, from Ormiston, was the proud recipient of the ‘Lifelong Commitment’ award at the 2024 VCEL (Volunteer Centre East Lothian) Inspiring Volunteer Awards at The Fraser Centre in Tranent.

Back in 1998, Mr Hood heard that Musselburgh Windsor was looking for additional volunteer coaches to help establish a children’s school for the youngest footballers.

He joined the club and was heavily involved in weekly coaching sessions, taking teams on a Saturday and different teams on a Sunday, playing Soccer 7s.

In 2003/04, he chaired the club’s 50th jubilee committee and was involved in organising several key events.

He followed this up by organising a dinner at the Brunton Hall to celebrate long-serving former club chairman John Murray, who died in 2014. In 2004/05, he was a coach when the under-15s won the Scottish Cup.

He then did something no one else has ever attempted and started two age groups, bringing 70-80 children together for football at Pinkie.

Mr Hood successfully applied for the Scottish FA Quality Mark and became involved in the Kenny Ritchie Festival of Football, which sees some 1,000 youngsters play at Pinkie.

He has attained his SFA Children’s Licence and several other qualifications, including a recognised Coerver coach.

Mr Hood represents the club at the East Lothian Community Day, has organised and travelled to Musselburgh’s French twin town of Champigny, organised foodbank collections, created a football memories group for former players with mental health issues/diseases, wrote the club charter, represented East Lothian on a trip to Rwanda, organised kits for Africa and established the hugely popular walking football group.

He has also held positions in the club such as general treasurer, general secretary and bookings secretary.

Mr Hood is the club manager, overseeing a multitude of activities across nearly 800 players. He is also the lead coach for the new girls’ under-eights.

He has served for 25 years and continues to do so, being awarded the club’s highest accolade in 2014 and recently being inducted into the Musselburgh Windsor FC Hall of Fame.

Scott Robertson, club president, paid tribute to Mr Hood, saying: “We as a club are delighted to see John recognised for his relentless volunteering.

“He has given a lifetime to helping every corner of our community, from coaching seven-year-old girls to Scottish Cup-winning boys, from setting up walking football for the mature player to bringing smiles back to the faces of those now suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia with the football memories group, from kits to Africa to the East Lothian Foodbank, John has touched thousands of lives.”

Mr Hood said: “I’m really honoured to receive this award and would thank the club for nominating me and for VCEL for choosing me.

“It was brilliant to hear all of the stories behind the various nominations, particularly the young people giving up their time to help and support others.

“I’ve been involved with Musselburgh Windsor for more than 25 years now and coaching for 40 years, so getting some recognition and support from people for doing something you really enjoy doing is very humbling.

“Well done to VCEL for a fantastic night.” Every year, during Volunteers’ Week, VCEL holds the Inspiring Volunteer Awards. Organisers describe it as a “celebration of the incredible dedication and effort put forth by volunteers in East Lothian”.