Moira Bowden is Chair of Hartlepool Rovers and claimed the Unsung Hero prize at the Honda Volunteer of the Year awards on Friday.
The Honda Volunteer of the Year awards are part of the Honda Volunteer Recognition Programme, which provides a platform to recprestigiognise the volunteers who make up such an integral part of the game and who have made a great contribution to their club and community – no matter what their role.
Moira has been a fixture in club life since she was a child and has made it her mission to transform it. “I was going down when I was two years old,” she said, then in her twenties began working in the events, fundraising, and sponsoring sections of the club.
She took over as Chair before the pandemic as rugby struggled to get back on its feet after Covid. Rovers had no treasurer, secretary or bar manager then, but under her leadership the committee has returned to full strength, three new junior teams have been set up, and the club has been remade into the heart of the community.
Moira used surveys of the community, including leafleting on a new-build housing estate, to figure out what people wanted from their local rugby club.
It now plays host to a rehearsal space for local bands – including a Sam Fender tribute act and Hartlepool Brass Band– as well as a holiday activity centre for children and meetings of Andy’s Man Club, a men’s mental health charity. Educational seminars, including on healthy eating for children, have helped build numbers in the junior ranks, and after-school clubs like judo take place too.
Moira, who was crowned winner at an awards ceremony hosted by RFU president Rob Udwin and presented by Alex Payne, said the event had been “smashing”.
“It was fantastic, it really made you feel valued,” she said. “I actually went the morning before the event started to the museum – it was really good!”
Asked what it felt like to win an award, she said: “I have certain expectations of myself, and I don’t really feel as if I go over and above what I should be doing. But it was evident on Friday night that I do! It’s fantastic to be recognised for what you do, but quite humbling. It really made you feel valued.
“Even this morning, a long standing club member came and shook my hand and said, ‘You’ve put this club back on the map,’ because our club is steeped in history, but it’s gone by the wayside. Even though we’re quite a small town, there’s five rugby clubs, and I’ve had messages from the other clubs to say congratulations.”
The awards recognise the local heroes who have had a major impact in their clubs and communities and demonstrated their commitment to the game over the past 12 months. It brings the opportunity to thank those who have gone above and beyond this year for teams, clubs, referees’ societies, and educational establishments.
Over 2,000 volunteers were nominated, with nominees being recognised at local level, before winners from these events were put forward as national finalists, with 46 nominees recognised at an awards ceremony at Allianz Stadium last week.
As well as overseeing wider operations, Moira juggles this alongside the day-to-day minutiae of the club supporting bar operations, sponsorships, and general logistics.
“Part of the work I’ve done is getting other people onboard, and that’s what’s really helped in taking the club forward. And it’s continuing to go forward as well.
“Covid was quite a challenge, because not only did the players go away from the club, but volunteers found other things to do with their time, so we really had to rebuild from there – not just on the pitch but off it as well.
“Our motto is, ‘we’re more than just a rugby club.’ It’s about getting the place used. You just think you’re trying to drive it forward as a rugby club and a business, but other people seem to think it’s more than that.”
Rob Udwin said: “It’s great to be able to be celebrating amazing volunteers through the Honda Volunteer Recognition Programme, because, like everyone who has played rugby, I know that our sport wouldn’t happen without them. What they have done for their clubs and communities over the past year has been invaluable and I hope the Honda Volunteer of the Year Awards lets them know how valued their work is.”
Rebecca Adamson, Head of UK Automobile, Honda, added: “At Honda we strive to improve people’s lives through the Power of Dreams, and that same challenging spirit can be found in abundance at rugby clubs up and down the country.
“We see many parallels between our brand values and those of the individuals that are celebrated as part of the Honda Volunteer Recognition Programme.
“We are proud to recognise the enormous efforts of the volunteers that make Rugby such a special sport to be a part of.”
Volunteers are the backbone of grassroots rugby in England. If you’d like to get involved and make a difference at your community club, visit: www.englandrugby.com/run/club-management/volunteers
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