Fenton, 78, and with the fitness that comes from long daily walks, usually with his old Maltese terrier Molly clipping at his heels, has lived on Heatherton Rd for 65 years. And  his association  with football extends to 59.

By Paul Amy- Leader News

The Casey Scorpions (formerly the Springvale Scorpions) will toast Fenton's service to community football with a function at the Casey Fields ground on July 5.

Fenton is a little embarrassed about it, thinking quite a few people could have been given such an honour.He started playing for Springvale in 1950, when it was in the Dandenong league.

That was when he got his  nickname. Keith Miller was coach and he called the fair-haired Fenton ``Snowy''. It stuck like mud on boots.Early in his career he broke a leg so badly he was unable to play for two years but he returned in time to play in the club's 1956 premiership team in the Caulfield-Oakleigh league.

In 1960 he helped establish the Springvale juniors.He can remember  63 kids turning up for the first practice match at Dingley: ``They  were all shapes and sizes. We  had to play  extra quarters to give 'em all a run!''He coached for many years and was president for 28.``He was a great coach, fantastic,''

Scorpions  general manager Brian Woodman, who rose from Springy juniors to  South Melbourne, said.``He  was very good with the kids _  he's got a great nature _ but he could also be demanding of them.''He said  juniors coached by Fenton formed the nucleus of the 1975, '77 and '83 senior premiership teams.

At its peak the club had teams in all age divisions and when Fenton stood down as president in 1988 it had money in the bank and lights at the ground  at Harold Rd in Springvale South.Gradually,  players numbers fell away as the area changed.
Fenton was saddened when  the club folded four years ago, and says the senior Vales would have suffered the same fate if they hadn't  moved to Cranbourne.He  continues to follow the Scorpions, attending all home games.He'll be there on July 5, humbly accepting the gratitude of the club he has served so faithfully