WHEN the curtain comes down on Highworth Town’s season next month, the club will pay tribute to the years of dedication put in by their outgoing manager.

On Saturday, April 16, the Worthians are set to finish their campaign and then, from 7pm, every member of the side John Fisher guided to the 2004-05 Hellenic League Premier Division title will be at The Elms to celebrate the career of their long-serving boss.

That 2005 triumph – current Purton chief Justin Miller top-scored with 18 league goals as Highworth won the title – provided Fisher’s crowning moment and just a season after leading the Worthians to within one game of a Wembley final in the FA Vase, as well as winning the Wiltshire Senior Cup, the former Swindon Supermarine and Shrivenham chief is set to step away from management.

Highworth chairman Rohan Haines says that Fisher is a friend to everyone at his club but that perhaps there was nobody that had a softer spot for the Worthians stalwart than his late father and former chairman Rodney.

“My dad, who died in 2008, always said to Fish that as long as he was chairman, he wouldn’t have to worry about anything and he’s always been superb with me too,” said Haines.

“Fish in infectious. He’s got time for everybody at the club and you’ll always find him having a chat to one of the old couples that come to watch us and things like that.

“He’s a good friend and myself and my brother, Fraser, will be going to his daughter Kimberley’s wedding soon.

“Everyone that played for Fish the year that we won the league in 2005 will be there and we’ve even got Andy Wollen, who was his assistant that year, coming over from Holland.

“I’m sure that there’ll be people who he’s played with or managed at other clubs that will want to come along too.

“It will be tough for us to replace him but we hope that he’ll stay on in a senior capacity.”

Fisher’s first spell as Highworth manager lasted from 2002 to 2008 and he returned to The Elms for his soon-to-be-concluded second tenure in 2011.

The Worthians host title-chasing Kidlington on Saturday, whilst Royal Wootton Bassett Town are without a fixture.