Richard Vernon Stokes, a local solicitor, was appointed to the Pompey board in 1937 and served until his death in 1982, apart from the period 8 May 1950 to 1 March 1951 when, along with Harry Wain he was suspended 'sine die' by the Football Association over an alleged allegal payment to player Jimmy McAlinden in the Autumn of 1946. The ban was lifted upon reconsideration of the evidence and ironically in 1976 he was awarded an OBE for services as Chair of the Football Association Disciplinary Committee. Vernon Stokes was chair of the club between 1946 and 1954, apart from the period of his suspension, and famously issued the challenge at the time of the club's Golden Jubilee 'Win the championship for the Jubilee' in 1948.
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