THIRTY years of absence will be bypassed at a special reunion to mark one of the area's most honour-laden football clubs.

Sheriff Hutton FC reigned supreme during the 1960s and 1970s and their achievements are to be recognised at a grand re-gathering to be held at the Cottage Inn in Haxby on Easter Saturday, April 15.

And all former players, committee members, officials and fans from those halcyon days are invited to attend the reunion, which will start at 7.30pm.

After two successive Ryedale Beckett League championships were garnered in the late 1960s, Sheriff Hutton FC entered the York and District League in 1971.

Their run in the bottom rung did not last long as they were soon rapidly scaling the divisions.

Sheriff Hutton's sharp-shooters won no less than five consecutive crowns winning divisions six, five, four, three and two. Then in their debut season in division one Sheriff Hutton finished an admirable third, just two points behind Rowntree's and Riccall.

Cup glory was also the preserve of the Sheriff ranks. Top of the knockout silverware bill was twice lifting the prized York Junior Cup at York City's then Bootham Crescent ground. They beat Crown Hotel 2-1 in 1973 and a year later routed the same opponents 4-1 with Stuart Wishart hitting a hat-trick.

During their most successful spell their captains included Wally Craven, Chris Harrison, John Hetherton and John Fort. They also boasted some of the area's top marksmen with their goal-grabbing exploits headed by Dave Butler (235 goals), Barrie Shipley (175), Craven (146), Wishart (140) and Fort (133). Dave Barker bagged an impressive 29-strike haul in his first season in the York division one.

Interest is high in the reunion though several former players have yet to be tracked down, namely Geoff and Adrian Wyrill, Peter Turner, Graham Houlgate, Dave Meers, Jim Dunn and Kevin Sweeting.

Anyone who can help in providing the whereabouts of the former Sheriff stalwarts, or who wants to attend the April 15 shindig, should contact Barrie Shipley on 01904 761809.

Pictured: Sheriff Hutton FC from left to right (back row): Les Metcalfe, John Howarth, Vic Thornton, Tony Newsham, Albert Pattison, Dave Smith, Phil Atlay and Margaret Forsdyke; (middle row): Malcolm Wilson, Stuart Wishart, Dave Butler, Wally Craven, Dennis Marshall, Des Wyrill and Glyn Stacey; (front row): Dave Hopper, Barrie Shipley, John Fort, Chris Harrison and John Hetherton.

Updated: 10:29 Saturday, January 21, 2006