TIME, alas, waits for no one. And local football's entry into Craven's sporting hall of fame in recent months has been particularly prolific with Allan Windle, at the age of 79, having become the latest admission to that distinguished gathering.

A native of Carleton where he grew up and attended the village primary school, Allan embraced the sporting ethos from a young age especially in football and cricket. However, his first tangible moment was achieved in endurance running where, as a first year scholar at Brougham Street Secondary Modern School, he won the annual cross country race. This being the last occasion when the historic event was staged its good old fashioned, traditional course over rising pastures and the lower reaches of Rombalds Moor. This being prior to the school being relocated across town at Aireville.

It was not long into his secondary school years, though, before Allan's footballing alacrity had been recognised on a wider plain as he was selected for the Bradford and District Schools representative side where football league scouts were forever lurking close by. And fine displays in the district colours resulted in him being recruited by Manchester City.

Never short of the essential attributes of fitness and discipline, Allan made a telling impact in his days with the Maine Road club. However, as then City star and subsequently revered Leeds United manager, Don Revie, later testified that it was predominantly Allan's lack of that extra degree of pace and power which denied the comparatively diminutive Carleton lad in reaching the very highest level. Those latter frailties also proving to be a decisive factor after Allan later joined Bradford City.

He was, though, a 'good 'un' and, returning to non-football league soccer, he particularly played an integral part in Carleton's early 1960s progression when they joined the West Riding Country Amateur League and very nearly won it. And, in the interim, added the Craven Cup midst that same purple patch in the club's history.

Also a keen cricketer where he particularly impressed as a swing bowler, Allan earned a permanent place in the Craven Cricket League's history archives through him achieving figures of 9 for 10 and 8 for 11 in the same 1962 season.

Family apart, Allan's other prime social hobby was gardening whereby his allotments and his home garden were traditionally an attraction to behold.

A quiet, albeit forever pleasant personality, those eminent qualities also rubbed off to his employment where, after fulfilling various jobs as a teenager - midst an era when he was also a noted contender for him being the local 'King of Rock 'n' Roll' - Allan's last 39 years of his working life was in servicing oil-fuelled boilers whereby customer care forever being his hallmark.

Allan is survived by his wife, Judith, son Martyn - himself a long time footballer and cricketer - daughter, Helen, grandchildren and, moreover, a host of happy memories.