LAWRENCE Handley’s long-standing dedication to Barnsley Football Club has earned him a well-deserved Proud of Barnsley nomination.

Lawrence, 82, who lives in Monk Bretton, isn’t showy about his support for the club; instead, he partakes in important work behind the scenes.

His extensive work for the club is completely voluntary, with Lawrence dedicating over 40 years to the cause.

Lawrence’s volunteering journey started after he completed some joinery work for the club in the 1970s.

He was asked by Michael Spinks if he was interested in helping out in the tunnels on match days and he hasn’t looked back since.

Since then, he has looked after generations of young matchday mascots and has missed just a handful of match days, showing his genuine love for supporting the club.

When asked about the extent of his volunteering duties, Lawrence commented:

“It’s more or less what I haven’t done.

“I’d do anything, I love the place.

“When I was at school, I played football and a little bit of rugby.

“I remember when my dad went to Wembley, then he took me down to Oakwell and that was it.

“I’ve been lucky enough to meet lots of nice people and footballers.

“People say I look like Jim Bowen and the club arranged for me to meet him.”

Lawrence’s commitment to volunteering stretches beyond the football club, integrating his passion for woodwork.

Having made wooden toys all of his life, Lawrence used to teach older people woodwork with the Men in Sheds club.

It has since expanded to include She Sheds, a space for women to explore woodwork.

According to Lawrence, he worked with some “very sick people who needed some TLC”.

Lawrence admitted that the club had approached him for a Proud of Barnsley nomination multiple times.( Previously, he turned down the nominations, believing that someone else deserved the spotlight.

This year, Lawrence has gotten his well-deserved recognition, joking that the club had ‘finally caught me’.

Over the summer, Lawrence has been seriously ill, but he hasn’t let that stop him from showing up for the club.

Darren Hayes, the Chief Commercial Officer for Barnsley Football Club, said: “Lawrence is a stalwart of the club - who has given so much voluntary time looking after our matchday mascots for over 40 years.

“Lawrence’s wife Lyn has been by his side for many of these years and together they have been heroes within the club.”