Continuing our regular series, we are giving Chronicle readers an insight into the lives of Essex sportsmen and sportswomen.

This week we feature Braintree Town Football Club president Ron Webb, and we asked him about his love of football, and Ryman League Division One side Braintree Town in particular.

Sixty-two years is a long time to support any football club, and Braintree Town Football Club president Ron Webb has certainly seen his share of ups and downs during his time with "The Iron", especially as he has been the club's press officer for the last 53 of those years.

After moving to Braintree with his parents at the age of 15, Ron, now 77, obtained a job with Crittals and started watching Crittals Athletic, who went on to become Braintree Town.

He was asked to submit his first report to the Chronicle in 1947, and served the club as secretary for 15 years before becoming president ten years ago.

Ron, who has been married to Yvonne for 46 years, and has two children, Nicholas and Alison, recalled his most memorable moment with Braintree coming when he was presented with a silver salver by the club and a medallion by the Football Association to mark his 50 years of service to the club.

He also enjoyed representing Braintree at the Football Association's centenary celebrations, while his lowest times with the club came during the late 1970s when the club were near to closing down due to lack of support.

We asked Ron some questions about being a Braintree fan, and also his other interests:

(1) Ambition: To see Braintree established in the Ryman League Premier Division.

(2) Footballing hero: Manchester United's Duncan Edwards (Ron's son Nicholas was born shortly after Edwards was killed in the Munich air crash, and he gave him the middle name of Duncan).

(3) Other sportsman/woman you admire: Denis Compton.

(4) Favourite Football League Clubs: Arsenal, Watford and Fulham.

(5) Favourite holiday destination: St Andrews, Scotland.

(6) Favourite film/video: 'In the heat of the night.'

(7) Favourite music: Glen Miller and Frank Sinatra.

(8) Favourite TV programmes: Comedies such as 'Dad's Army' and 'It ain't 'alf hot mum' and documentaries.

(9) Favourite food: Sunday roast.

(10)Favourite drink: IPA bitter.

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