RFU recognises Fred McCarthy
Posted on 14 June 2016
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Middlesex News
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RFU recognises Herts / Middlesex league organiser Fred McCarthy
Post Date: 14th June 2016
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As part of National Volunteer Week, which recognises volunteers as being at the heart of the game, englandrugby.com is promoting the stories of three volunteers who give up their time to grow the game. Among these is the organiser of the Herts/Middlesex Merit Table leagues, Fred McCarthy, who has been involved in rugby for 68 years.
“If there is one person who has done his fair share in growing the game it’s Fred McCarthy” says the RFU.
The 79-year-old volunteer began playing at the age of 11, going on to referee for 25 years before becoming a fixture secretary for 35 years.
Fourteen years ago McCarthy decided to start, from scratch and by himself, a system of merit leagues for club teams below 1st XV level.
“Most of my life has been given to rugby,” says McCarthy “Of everything I’ve done in the sport, starting the merit tables in Hertfordshire and Middlesex has been the most rewarding but also the most challenging.”
McCarthy began the new leagues in 2002 with 12 teams signing up. There are now over 80 and McCarthy has managed it all himself.
“It’s been a huge project. It’s something I took on after I retired and it has taken time but it’s also been a fantastic thing to develop. I played a lot of 2nd XV rugby myself and to give teams of that level in this area a structure has been very rewarding.”
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