Last updated at 14:07, Friday, 06 July 2012

A RUGBY league coach has been named Dalton Citizen of the Year in recognition of his work in the community.

Paul Crarey, Dalton Amateur Rugby League Football Club manager, accepted the award from Dalton mayor, Councillor Barry Doughty – but insisted his fellow volunteers at the club deserved the same credit.

Mr Crarey, who is also the Cumbria RL and British Amateur Rugby League Association Lions boss, said: “It’s a great honour for myself, my family and Dalton ARLFC.

“We’ve made it into a community club and not just a one-team club.

“We work hard with the juniors and we’ve got over 100 kids registered, mainly Dalton-based.

“A lot of people work very hard at the club – not just me. I’m just a name behind it.

“There is also the likes of Kevin O’Brien, Ian Gordon, John Flynn, David High and Paul Armstrong... the list is endless.”

Mr Crarey, a former Barrow Raiders boss, dedicated the accolade to late Dalton ARLFC chairman, Ronnie Beardsworth.

He said: “He did a lot of work and we are just carrying on that work from him.

“We’re glad what we’re doing in the community is not going un-noticed.”

Before he presented the award to Mr Crarey at a meeting of Dalton Town Council on Monday evening, Cllr Doughty said: “It’s a very difficult task, because there’s probably so many worthwhile causes in the town and lots of people doing lots of good things, perhaps unnoticed.

“This is one where we, as a town council, want to recognise those unselfish sacrifices people make for the good of the town, and Paul certainly represents that.”

First published at 13:22, Friday, 06 July 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk