Derick Turner to be conferred with the Mr. Boots Award   25/10/2020

Derick Turner to be conferred with the Mr. Boots Award

The club learned during the week that our own Derick ‘Mr. Rugby’ Turner will be conferred with the prestigious Mr. Boots Award.  The Mr Boots award was first presented in 1981. It’s purpose is to honour volunteers who excel in the service of junior rugby.  When the legendary Willie John McBride retired from playing rugby in 1980, one of the last matches he played in was against Arklow RFC. After the game, instead of hanging up his boots, he presented his famous footwear to the Arklow club as a memento of the occasion.

In memory of Willie John’s outstanding contribution to Irish Rugby, and in particular to Junior Rugby, it was decided to honour “Mr. Boots” by presenting an annual award to a person who, in the opinion of the adjudicators, has rendered long and outstanding service to Junior Rugby in Ireland. A silver badge suitably inscribed, is presented to each year’s winner at a dinner.  This year it is our very own Derick Turner.

Anyone who has had any involvement in Longford RFC will know that Derick has been the driving force behind the club since its reformation in the 1970s after falling into hibernation during World War 2.  Longford RFC have among the best facilities of any rugby club in Ireland and without a doubt Derick has been the driving force behind them. They include the first all weather ‘Prunty’ pitches outside Northern Ireland, the first fully match standard flood light pitches outside Dalymount Park, a full extension/refurbishment of the club house including state of the art bar, function room and restaurant, gym, separate female changing facilities and most recently the Mel Diffley 4G training pitch which will be extended to form the new community pitch, the Hugh Connolly Youth Centre and fully tarmacking the car park.  Derick’s latest project, which is currently underway, is a new €600k state of the art 3G artificial pitch, which will be international rugby standard.

You can learn more about the Mr. Boots award at the link below and the list of previous recipients, which includes our own Pat Fitzgerald.

Hopefully, we will be in a position to hold a function to present Derick with the award in 2021!

https://www.irishrugby.ie/2019/10/27/award-winning-volunteers-mr-boots-2018/

Derick with 2nd XV Captain Philly Dardis after the Presentation of the 1B League Trophy












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