Cambridge United stadium manager and groundsman Ian Darler has been awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list 2020.
The honour was given for his services to Cambridge United Football Club and his charity work, with the Cambridge Charity Fundraisers.
Darler has been groundsman at Cambridge United’s Abbey Stadium for 42 years, and it is more than just a job as he has dug deep into his own pockets to help maintain the pitch and facilities at the ground when the club has hit hard times.
He was the youngest head groundsman in the Football League when first appointed to the role, and has gone on to also become the stadium manager and matchday safety officer – it is fair to say that he is part of the Abbey Stadium furniture.
Darler has documented his career at Cambridge United in his book ‘Life’s a pitch’.