Man of Kent Posted January 25, 2023 Share Posted January 25, 2023 BARLA pioneer Maurice Oldroyd dies aged 87 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Futtocks Posted January 25, 2023 Share Posted January 25, 2023 One hell of a bad week for RL legends. 3 Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted. Ralph Waldo Emerson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number 16 Posted January 25, 2023 Share Posted January 25, 2023 An awful week, for certain. RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecoffeeman Posted January 25, 2023 Share Posted January 25, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, Man of Kent said: BARLA pioneer Maurice Oldroyd dies aged 87 Dear Me, I came on here to post some info about David Oxley's funeral and now I discover that Maurice has gone too. Another lovely Man who did so much for the game. Maurice had an uncanny habit of turning up at events when organisers sometimes weren't aware that he was coming and would rush to get him something to eat and drink. I was once at the Houses of Parliament in the days of David Hinchcliffe MP and Maurice turned up unannounced, much to the hilarity of the people that knew him. Needless to say he was looked after well. This was in the mid 2000's. On the same night, he thought he'd spotted Rupert Murdoch having a drink on the Terrace and went to remonstrate with him about the damage he'd done to the game following the Super League wars. But, again to the hilarity of those present, it wasn't him. I'm genuinely saddened at this. RIP my friend. Edited January 25, 2023 by thecoffeeman 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hemel Rugby League Posted January 25, 2023 Share Posted January 25, 2023 (edited) Maurice was a magnificent servant to BARLA and the community game and he saw the sport flourish under his stewardship. He was also a great supporter of Hemel Stags opening our first clubhouse in 1985 RIP, Maurice Edited January 25, 2023 by Hemel Rugby League 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meast Posted January 25, 2023 Share Posted January 25, 2023 Sad news indeed. He was a HGSA member for many years and always paid his fees on time too. He also attended our meetings until fairly recently. Sad loss, lovely bloke too. RIP. Huddersfield Giants Supporters Association Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madrileño Posted January 26, 2023 Share Posted January 26, 2023 If he was the guy who started BARLA (or at least the major driver behind it) then it is probably not unreasonable to say he saved the English game from extinction. If BARLA had not come along when it did, the handful of amateur clubs who existed back then would probably have gradually disappeared. This, added to union becoming professional, and the drop off in kids' sport in general since the 80s would have left rugby league with almost no players coming through and nowhere to sign them from. I don't think it is too much of a stretch to say that the creation of BARLA (and Maurice driving that) is probably what saved English rugby league in the longer term. R.I.P. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iffleyox Posted January 26, 2023 Share Posted January 26, 2023 Really sad news. What a week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sentoffagain2 Posted January 26, 2023 Share Posted January 26, 2023 Maurice and Fred Lindop did a lot of work establishing Rugby League in Leeds and Sheffield Universities which broadened the playing structure.Remember Maurice going round the pubs and clubs in Wakefield,Cas,Featherstone when he set up the Sunday League.He offered a free team strip to the Landlord and explained the benefit of having extra customers twice a week after training and Sunday match day.A rugby League man through and through who will be missed.R.I.P. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATLANTISMAN Posted January 26, 2023 Share Posted January 26, 2023 Wonderful man RIP Maurice always gave 100% support to London Amateur Rugby League. Paul 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fighting irish Posted January 26, 2023 Share Posted January 26, 2023 I knew him and he was a really nice chap. I'm very sorry to hear of his passing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daz39 Posted January 26, 2023 Share Posted January 26, 2023 Sad news, i had the pleasure of his company a few times at HGSA meetings and when i gave him a lift, always had a smile on his face and time to tell a tale or 2. Lovely man and a huge pioneer in RL's history too. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamoldroyd Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 Maurice's funeral is on Wednesday 8 Feb 11am at Southgate Methodist Church, Elland. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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