WANDERERS have honoured three club stalwarts with the George Warburton Outstanding Service Award.

Former players, Eddie Hopkinson and Roy Greaves, and ex-club secretary and chief executive Des McBain were given the accolade before the final game of the season against Peterborough United.

Former England international goalkeeper Hopkinson, who passed away in 2004, is Wanderers’ all-time leading appearance maker with 578 games between 1956 and 1969. His son Paul collected the prize, awarded by former vice-chairman Brett Warburton.

Roy Greaves played more games than any other outfield player in the club’s history, representing the Whites on 575 occasions between 1965 and 1980.

And Des McBain, who celebrates 50 years in football this season, is a hugely respected football administrator who began working at Burnden Park in 1978.

The award was first presented in 2009 after the passing of George Warburton and previous winners include Nat Lofthouse (posthumously), Eddie Davies, die-hard fan Ruth Crawshaw, Community Trust volunteer Julian Lodge Joe McGlynn, who worked with the Whites for more than 40 years.

“When the club decided to present this award in George Warburton’s memory we felt it was important to remember him as a person but also what was important to him – the people of the club,” said chaplain, Phil Mason.

“Not just directors, but players and those who worked on the ground week-in, week-out.”