Between them, stalwarts Michael and Mary Ellis have racked up more than 100 years service at Stradbroke United and were both winners at the Suffolk FA Awards Evening.

Mr Ellis received the coveted 50-year FA Long Service award from Ipswich Town chairman David Sheepshanks, while Mrs Ellis was given the Suffolk FA Football Volunteer Workforce Award.

Although Stradbroke chairman Mr Ellis had been invited to the event at the Sir Bobby Robson suite at Ipswich's Portman Road stadium, he had no idea he would be picking up an award.

"I was in a daze on the evening," said Mr Ellis, 76.

"David Sheepshanks was reading all these achievements someone had done and next thing he was reading out my name.

"I didn't really appreciate it until the next day."

Mr Ellis, of Queen Street, Stradbroke, admits his involvement with Stradbroke United goes back nearer 60 years after he joined the club as a player in his early teens.

By the time he was 17 he was captain and running the team, before hanging up his boots at 28 due to injury and illness.

Despite being restricted to the sidelines, Mr Ellis has continued his involvement with the club ever since, currently as chairman and groundsman.

He said: "It has given me a lot of enjoyment and heartache. I've always been involved and I don't know what I would do if I wasn't.

"It's a big part of my life."

Although Mrs Ellis was in on the secret that her husband would be receiving an award on August 21, she was not aware she would be picking up one too.

Mrs Ellis has been involved with the club for more than 40 years, with her roles including club treasurer, fund-raiser and match day duties. She said: "It is nice to be recognised for the hard work we do behind the scenes, which doesn't always get seen."

The Ellis' involvement with United does not finish with Mr and Mrs Ellis.

Last season their sons, twins Kevin and David Ellis, 41, and their younger brother Micky, 40, were all still playing for the club.

David and Micky retired at the end of the campaign but remain on the committee, while Kevin is now joint-manager with Greg Wharton.