Royal salute for Swifty (From Warrington Guardian)

Royal salute for Swifty

WHEN Harold Swift started out, rugby teams got changed in an assortment of garages and chicken sheds... but now the Blackbrook stalwart is brimming with pride after being awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honour's list.

Harold has been honoured for his services to amateur rugby league - at local, county, and national level - for the past 51 years as a player, coach and administrator

The 71-year-old Blackbrook chairman, said: "All the club is made up and I'm so proud. A lot of people at the club are saying I'm the first MBE they actually know in person.

"We got a letter six weeks ago from the prime minister informing me of the honour, we've had to keep it a secret, which has been difficult!

"It makes me very proud to see what we have achieved. We started off getting changed in garages, and then some old chicken sheds...but things have moved on over the course of 50 years. It has been a lot of hard work, and we're not finished yet."

After beginning a playing career with Brook's open age squad as hooker, aged 20, he soon took on administrative roles, becoming acting secretary of the old Blackbrook rugby section a year later before becoming club chairman of the club at 26. He continued playing until he was 38.

In the years since, Harold has nurtured Brook's growth, both in terms of coaching, expanding teams and improving facilities, with the humble McDonald Avenue changing rooms now replaced by a Boardmans Lane base, which boasts one of the most envied set-ups in the game.

From having two rugby, two football and a cricket team when he took control of the club, Brook now has 11 junior teams, plus senior teams.

Australia

Players like former Widnes second-row Jimmy Measures, and Tommy Bishop, in the 50s, and present day players like Gary Connolly and Tim Jonkers, have all progressed to the professional ranks while the club has been under Harold's stewardship.

The former Royal London Insurance employee's has also been associated with Barla (British Amateur Rugby League) since its formation in 1973, and has toured Australia and Papua New Guinea. In 1974 he coached Barla Great Britain to their first overseas victory in France.

The father-of-five, who lives with wife Mavis in Chestnut Grove, Blackbrook, still holds a seat on the Barla executive and is chairman of open-age development with the amateur game's governing body.

And Rugby Football League executive chairman Richard Lewis sent his congratulations to Harold, and said the honour was "richly deserved".

Mr Lewis said: "The type of work carried out by Harold and many others is not often highlighted yet it is a very important part of rugby league's growth and development."