Old-fashioned loyalty sees Fraser Confrey give a lifetime devotion to Milton Football Club

If there were to be a dictionary definition of one-club man then it may just simply state: Fraser Confrey.

The start may have been inauspicious but who would have guessed that when a 15-year-old Confrey made his debut for Milton reserves at Mepal Sports in Division 5B of the Cambs County League in March 1980, he would still be playing 41 seasons later?

What makes still pulling the boots on even more impressive is that those 40 full seasons already completed have all been with Milton.

There has been just one campaign that was an exception – a year on dual registration with Histon in the Eastern Counties League in 1994/95 – but otherwise the 55-year-old has devoted his life to his village team.

It leads to the obvious question, why?

“It’s called old-fashioned loyalty. It’s been a lifetime labour of love developing our club,” says Confrey.

“It’s lost on most people in the modern era. An example would have been, a young lad attended a training session as a ‘trialist’ and when he came to sign the form, I didn’t know him but the question on the form asks for the last club, and his answer was Milton Colts.

“That was very heartwarming for me. We had obviously developed him, and he wanted to play with our A team.

“It’s the idea of developing a young player, but also just the provision of football.

“Despite all the hardship of putting your hand in your pockets, white-lining pitches and everything else that goes into running a club, the lure for me is still 3pm on a Saturday afternoon.

“It’s been everything for me. It’s given lifelong friendships, it’s your hobby.

“One of the biggest fears is if I was to walk away or to have turned my desires somewhere to try to progress to something bigger, I would be very sad if it came tumbling down like a pack of cards. That would have been the worry.”

Milton had aspirations five years ago to win the Cambs League and push into the Eastern Counties League, but the ground and floodlights were a restricting factor.

Conversations were had about a ground share on a site on Landbeach Road, but the discussions fell through and prompted a change of tack with a new base for youngsters on North Lodge in the village.

“It was an idea that we would try to further ourselves as a club at that point to get floodlights and a mini stadium but finance, money and compromising meant we settled as a community club,” says Confrey.

“The money potentially available sorted out a new ground for our colts club.”

Apart from that year on dual-reg with Histon, there has never been the temptation to chase ‘riches’ elsewhere.

At a very young age, in 1982/83, Confrey became assistant club secretary to Charlie Daniels, who had held the role for 39 years, since the Second World War.

Having shadowed Daniels for a few seasons, Confrey, whose day job is with S-Tech Insurance Services Ltd, took over the role in 1986.

It was worth pointing out that Confrey is not alone in long service at Milton, the club’s chairman, vice-chairman and treasurer have all served more than 40 years themselves.

“Everybody who ever knew me as a player said I was playing below my standard, and should have been playing semi-pro over a long period of time – that’s not me being big-headed, it’s what other people said about me,” he says.

“But because of the love element, the development and the off-field giving you your social life and hobby, the three things married into one.

“The playing side was always the big driver – I’m a sportsman first and foremost.

“The club became a love thing in terms of running it, building it up and setting up Milton Colts which has been very successful – at Milton you can play between the ages of five and 55.”

Confrey is now at the top end of that bracket, and with the A team, which was formed for the 1991/92 season, as their player-manager.

It is being used as the development side to bridge the gap between the first team and reserves, and the colts. There were 24 teams fielded in the village last season.

“We have two or three older guys playing in the A team, and we attempt to get the best of our colts players trying to bridge this gap between colts football and adults’ football,” he explains.

“The trend is clubs going to the wall, a general shortage of players, dropping a second or third side – we’re bucking the trend with healthy numbers and a production line of youngsters wanting to play then coming across into the adults’ set up.

“It’s by having the continuity of being a community club, and just having that reach, that we can continually field sides.”

At his peak, Confrey was a striker and describes his favourite moment at Milton as being “the thrill of scoring goals rather than specifically winning a league or a cup” but for the past 15 years he has been at centre-back.

It is not surprising that Confrey has played in nearly every position for Milton in his 41 seasons, with one exception – goalkeeper.

“There is still time,” he adds. “If you ask me if I could play in 10 years, why not? I’m a fit person.

“It’s a number. It’s about your motivation, fitness and wellbeing.”

So maybe one day goalie will be added to the roll call of duties that has at some point included nearly every responsibility at the club – from coach to groundsman, manager of all three senior teams and now, even Covid officer.

And you would not bet against Confrey going on to make the
half-century of service to Milton, at least.