Chudleigh Athletic Football Club is pleased to announce that Martin Tinkler has been appointed as the new Club Chairman. Martin takes over from Roger Harvey, who has served the club with exceptional dedication for approximately 20 years as Chairman and a lifetime as a player, manager, and committee member.
Roger Harvey has been a dedicated member of the football club since the age of 16. He progressed through to the adult teams and continued playing until the age of 45, when he retired from playing. During his playing career, Roger joined the club committee, helping with the day-to-day running of the club. He later took on the key role of reserve team manager and subsequently first team manager, coordinating players and members to ensure the club continued to operate during some extremely challenging periods, including times when the club was close to folding.
As part of his committee role, Roger played a crucial part in reintroducing youth football to the town for the first time in over 20 years, working alongside youth manager Peter Heath. This marked the beginning of a new era for the club.
Approximately 20 years ago, Roger stepped into the vacant chairman role, a position he has held ever since. Under his stewardship, the club has gone from strength to strength. When he first took charge, the club barely had two teams and was contemplating closure. Today, it boasts two strong adult teams and five youth teams ranging from Under 9s to Under 15s, providing much-needed structure, sport, and opportunity for the children and families of Chudleigh. The club now supports around 100 registered youth players and around 60 adult players.
Roger's willingness to help the club in any capacity is unmatched. Over the years, he has taken on countless roles, including groundsman — marking pitches, cutting grass at the sports centre on evenings and Saturday mornings — preparing facilities for match days, and ensuring everything is ready for play. He has also been heavily involved in running the bar, where, with the support of the committee, he is often present from opening to close every Saturday and Sunday, serving drinks in the bar or tea and coffee in the kitchen, collecting and stocking the centre, washing and cleaning dirty football kits, and carrying out general maintenance whenever needed — basically doing whatever is needed for the good of the club, teams, and wider community.
Beyond football, the club under Roger's guidance has consistently supported the local community whenever called upon. The facilities have been made available for family fun days, private events such as parties and wakes, and general meetings whenever requested. Roger himself is a familiar and respected face around the town — whether supporting local events, visiting town shops, or representing the club and sports centre.
In addition to his football commitments, Roger has been a member of the wider Sports Centre Committee for over 30 years, helping to ensure the town continues to have access to quality sporting facilities.
Now, having reached the grand age of 70 last year, Roger has decided that this will be his final year in charge. After decades of tireless commitment, leadership, and service to the sport and the community of Chudleigh, everyone at Chudleigh Athletic Football Club wishes to place on record their deepest thanks to Roger for everything he has given — and continues to give — to this club.
The club welcomes Martin Tinkler to the role of Chairman and looks forward to working with him as we build on the strong foundations Roger has laid.
