ROY Northall is the new chairman of the Worcestershire Football Association.

Northall succeeds Ken Clifford, who stood down after 16 years of service at the WFA’s council meeting, and will be assisted by David Thombs as vice-chairman.

The council marked the end of Clifford’s tenure by presenting him with an engraved cut glass decanter and six glasses, a presentation made by the association’s president Percy Rushton.

Rushton said that over the past 16 years Clifford had done a marvellous job and guided the association through a period of significant transition, including the purchase of their current offices in Hampton Lovett.

Newly-elected chairman Northall joined the council in 1983 as the Worcester area junior clubs representative. He has since served on all committees and was elected vice-chairman in August 2000.

The council also elected Northall and company secretary Mervyn Leggett as life members of the Association, having both completed 25 years service.

Meanwhile, the Worcestershire FA has launched the national governing body’s Respect programme across the county.

The programme aims to improve the standards of behaviour in the professional and grassroots game, reducing the drop-out of referees and the number of abandoned matches.

Leagues and clubs are being invited to voluntarily sign-up and introduce a code of conduct for players, referees, coaches and fans.

New chairman Northall said: “The Respect programme is critical to helping us all work together to change the negative attitudes and unacceptable behaviour which threaten the future of football in Worcestershire.”