SADDLEWORTH RANGERS stalwart Chris Garforth says it’s “nice to be appreciated” after being presented with a BARLA Unsung Hero Award.
Oldham league chair Phil Bradbury and colleagues turned up unannounced to spring the award on ‘Gaffer’ at a committee meeting on a Tuesday night.
“I was obviously surprised because you’d imagine people would get awards like that a little later on in life,” Chris admitted. “I was a bit embarrassed really!”
As just the fourth recipient of the award in Oldham, Chris has nothing to be embarrassed about as he has dedicated years to the Shaw Hall Bank Road club.
Phil said: “Chris was nominated for his outstanding effort in organising the over 35’s Master’s game which is now a regular game before the Standard Challenge Cup Final.
“The award is presented to the club person who just stays in the background, carrying on doing jobs clubs with little rewards – but without these people no club could operate.”
BARLA also highlighted the achievements of Gaffer’s playing career which included playing at Wembley in 1984 for the Oldham School’s team.
He later caught Lancashire at under 17’s and also the Pennine League’s Under 19’s against the Australian school boys in 1991.
After being an integral part of the Rangers open age team for many years he later played for the BARLA Presidents 13 against France, captained Lancashire and toured France with the BARLA Great Britain open age team.
Chris added: “It’s really nice to be appreciated and it could have been any number of people down at Rangers.”
Meanwhile, Waterhead Warriors’ Ian Ogden has been presented with an Oldham Amateur League’s Unsung Hero Award.
Ian, along with Chris Garforth, have worked tirelessly to promote over-35s masters rugby and for each of the last three years organised a masters game before the final of the Standard Challenge Cup.
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