Engraver Eric is highly respected on Lisburn’s local football scene

Eric was a motor bike fanatic, becoming a highly successful pillion passenger in races. This is a very dangerous game and it cost Eric his future in the sport when he was involved in a very serious accident on the track.

His future looked bleak, but Eric decided to set up an engraving and trophy suppliers business and he has never looked back since.

He gave the business the name of “Ironside Trophies’’ and this was to stick with him until the present day with his Christian name being dropped and re-born as “Ironside’’.

Virtually retired, with the business handed over to daughter, Gail, and her husband, Andrew Tait, Eric had already set up a tradition of unusual and magnificent trophies for the various sports.

If you get a chance to go along to the Lisburn Junior Invitational Football League’s Shield or Cup finals you will see the Ironside handiwork.

Every year a new style trophy seems to appear and is particularly cherished by the young footballers and their parents.

Eric has overcome the terrible time when he knew he would not ride again and was confined to a wheelchair. But he still “rides on’’ in the trophy field.