The Roelich brothers teamed up on and off the pitch after Richard left non-league Ashford.

They started up their heating and plumbing business and combined it with local football at Lewes, where George was player-manager.

Richard said: "All the time the business was expanding. I bought a plot of land at Peacehaven which cost Judy and I £500 and that was the start of our first bungalow.

" I did the building and Judy did the labouring. It took us two years. The experience we gained then helped us build another home in Brighton."

Richard enjoyed his time at Lewes and then met Danny Benzie, who offered him a good deal at Littlehampton.

"Of course, you weren't supposed to get money, but it went on with a lot of the clubs." His time there was equally as enjoyable as at the Dripping Pan. But now the business had really taken off and Richard packed the game in at 30 and took to golf.

He started as a left-hander with George at Waterhall. Shortly Richard was advised to play right-handed although he preferred to continue putting left. After only two years and playing off 14 he broke the Waterhall course record with a 68. For the past 30-odd years he has been a stalwart member at East Brighton.

Does Richard regret not having become a time-serving pro with a club outside the First Division?

"No, not really. I've got happy memories of playing as a kid and I enjoyed my time at Lewes and Littlehampton. Those games as a boy stick in the mind and I've kept all my medals including those for boxing. I was only a little fella, like a whippet really, but I had pace and could send defenders the wrong way. I was lucky at staying free from serious injury. Except for a chipped ankle bone I wasn't hurt. They had to catch me first."