Stags' club secretary Keith Burnand marked his upcoming retirement by leading the teams out alongside grandson Oliver before Saturday's match against Portsmouth.
Keith joined the club six years ago after chairman John Radford asked him to move from non-league Worksop Town.Â
To make his final matchday as secretary extra special, Keith carried the matchball onto the pitch ahead of kick-off alongside his grandson Oliver Keane, who watched the game from the directors’ box in the Ian Greaves Stand.Â
After shaking hands with both sets of players in front of the Ian Greaves Stand, Keith was presented with an engraved watch by the chairman as a token of the club's thanks for his service. Mr Radford, along with the rest of the directors, also gave Keith a bouquet of flowers for his wife, Margaret.Â
Mr Burnand's grandson Oliver told Keith after they went home from One Call Stadium that Saturday was 'the best day of his life'.Â
Despite his decision to step back from his full-time role, Keith will still attend matches next season as the club’s referees’ liaison officer to ensure the officials receive everything they need when they visit One Call Stadium.Â
Mr Burnand has travelled home and away with the Stags during his tenure as secretary, organising hotels, coaches and meals for players and staff.Â
He has overseen scores of transfers as club secretary and has often worked tirelessly to make sure deals were completed before the transfer deadline loomed.Â
After a brief spell in the mining industry after finishing school, Keith embarked on a career in the driving sector, namely with Derbyshire County Council.Â
He was also a referee for a large part of his life, and takes great pleasure in telling his work colleagues about his trials and tribulations as the man in the middle!Â
Keith began his secretarial journey in 1998 when he joined Staveley Miners’ Welfare, before moving to Ilkeston Town.Â
Following Ilkeston’s administration, Keith briefly joined Worksop Town before receiving the call from the Stags’ chairman, offering him the job at One Call Stadium.Â
Mr Burnand will ‘hang up his pen’ for the final time at the end of the season to enjoy his retirement with wife Margaret.Â
Everyone at One Call Stadium wishes Keith a happy and healthy retirement.
