KEVIN HOBSON and Jimmy Green have been added to Waterhead Warriors’ prestigious roll of honour for their devoted service to the club.
The pair were honoured at the club’s second annual ball that was held at the White Hart, Lydgate.
Moorside-based Kevin was rewarded for 40 years’ service off the field in posts as diverse as running the bar, kit man and being chairman for half of that marathon stint.
Kevin was first drawn to the club having lost his leg at the age of 17 following an accident at football.
“My family had gone to live in Waterhead and I was drawn to the club. It was great to become involved and enlightening as well as enabling me to do something for society,” he explained.
Kevin, a retired engineer, is delighted to see so many players go from his watch to star at the top level of Rugby League.
“Clubs like ourselves can open doors and challenge youth players to get to the levels achieved by the likes of Kevin Sinfield. They have made a good living out of the game, but they didn’t get it easy and had to work hard for it,” he explained.
He also paid tribute to wife Sue saying he could not have served the club without her support.
Meanwhile Jimmy, who died last year at the age of 88, was represented at the ball by sons Andy and Nigel.
He was a former chairman, committee member and life member of BARLA and was influential in the move in 1972 from the Church Inn to their current home at Peach Road.
Jimmy, who lived in Greenacres, was a former manager at Central Wallboards, Greenacres Mill, and later a well known local taxi driver.
Sons Andy and Nigel are former players at club along with grandson Jonathan as three generations of the family have ties with the club.
Meanwhile coach Dave Orwell believes better days are ahead for Waterhead Warriors as he prepares for a second season as first-team coach with the new campaign kicking off next month.
The 25-year-old, believed to be the youngest coach in National Conference League, can see rays of sunshine on the horizon. He has arrested the slide after back to back relegations left them in the basement division.
There was a time last season when it looked as though Warriors may have finished bottom of division three and had to apply for re-election.
Happily a mid-season flurry, when they had a run of four wins in five games, removed that worry.
Dave, a second-row forward whose career at Super League club Huddersfield Giants was ended by a broken leg aged 21, is also planning a comeback to help the side.
And the metal polisher from Lees is hoping to add further shine to the Warriors this season.
He said: “Last season we had a very young team which lacked experience and size.
“We are hoping some of the older players that left will be returning which will be a big help.”
Dave, who began his playing days in his teens at Saddleworth Rangers, added: “The numbers at pre-season training have been good and the players have trained really hard.
“A lot of the old guard left last season and we have a new generation of young players that we are hoping to keep together as we believe we have the makings of a very good side.”
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