Mainland Football is sad to announce to the wider footballing family, the passing of Life Member, Eileen Langridge, who passed away early in the new year at the age of 97. 

Mrs Langridge made an outstanding contribution to football in the Mainland Federation, specifically in the area of Administration, for which she received numerous awards and honours.

"Eileen's contribution to football has been over a period of time longer than most of us have lived. She has been rightfully acknowledged through the years, at all levels of the beautiful game, and will leave a huge gap to fill." says Craig Rhodes, Mainland Football Board Chairman.

Notably, she was the first woman awarded Life Membership of NZ Football in 2002 and five years later, in 2007, was the recipient of Queens Service Medal (QSM) for services to football.

Known as a strong and determined woman and ‘stickler’ for the rules, it is also testament to her tireless work that she was made Life Member of two Christchurch football clubs, Western AFC and Cashmere Technical; Both clubs naming a trophy in her honour, to be played for in matches between the respective club sides.

In 1968, she began her life in football administration, taking up the position of Junior Administrator then Club Secretary with Western AFC, a role she held for 15 years. Western, a club dear to Mrs Langridge, appointed her Club Patron in the late 1990's, a post she remained in up until last year.

Through the course of the half-a-century devoted to football, she was a ‘go-to’ for any aspiring and established sports administrator. “She was a great sounding board and knew everything, all off the top of her head”, says Colin Grant, Mainland’s Head of Competitions.   

The Mainland Football Eileen Langridge named award for Administrator of the Year, was a trophy she was very proud of and up until the last couple of years, an award she insisted on being present to hand out to the recipient at the annual awards evening.   

A West Ham supporter until the end, she will be sadly missed by all who knew her. The Staff and Board of Mainland Football, join the rest of the footballing community in wishing all of her family all the best through this difficult time.

A celration of Eileen's life will be held on Monday the 15th January at the Canterbury Crematorium, 455 Linwood Ave, Christchurch, at 2pm.

Photo Credit: STUFF