The Keith Christie Trophy was named in honour of one of RAF FA Football’s greatest coaches.
The trophy that is presented to the winners of the RAF Cup was renamed in 2016.
During his career, Warrant Officer Keith Christie gave outstanding service of the highest order to the Royal Air Force over which time he has unswervingly committed 30 years to Royal Air Force Sport; his main focus being the delivery of Service Football. His exemplary service was characterised by the outstanding example of leadership he consistently displayed during his involvement with the Royal Air Force Football Association. Keith worked tirelessly at all levels of RAF Football, commencing in the 1970s, with Station Football moving onto the RAF Representative Development Squad and finally the full RAF Senior Team in 2006. He selflessly devoted his own time to the development of young airman through the medium of team sport and his determination to provide them with the highest level of coaching and instruction; this indelibly marked him as an exceptionally dedicated and effective leader who led by personal example.
Where Keith brought transformational change was in his role as the Senior Representative Men’s Team Manager, where he produced an unprecedented level of success. This was all the more impressive as the first non-commissioned Team Manager. During his time with RAF Football he always committed elongated hours of his own time to ensure the guidance and direction given to players and coaches under his charge is second to none. The care, patience, skill and the long hours he put into his work made him an outstanding example to all. By sheer force of character, energy and devotion to his role he achieved exceptional results and that has truly been to the benefit of others and his Service as a whole.
He personally developed an entire generation of players and coaches within his service and altruistically dedicated his energy for the sole benefit of RAF sport. This has seen him involved at all levels of Service football from Stn, Group, Command as well as full Representative and Combined Service. Keith was and still is an individual who is highly respected as well as being popular and widely admired. His level of self-sacrifice was far in excess of the normal requirements of military duty and, as a man of genuine modesty; he never saw his efforts as anything special. However, the fact that his self-sacrifice towards the development and benefit of others motivated many other officers and airman to follow his fine example and actively involve themselves in RAF Football, is a testament to his outstanding ability and commitment to serve others. Sadly, Keith passed away in 2015.
.ashx?mw=1440)