ONE of the first women in the region to get involved with rugby league has died.

A passionate sportswoman herself, Margaret Smalley was highly respected in rugby circles. She was instrumental in setting up and running rugby clubs both in Huddersfield and at national level.

Mrs Smalley, who was 71, lived at Netherlea Drive, Netherthong.

Her daughter Katy Morris said Mrs Smalley “was sports mad and fell in love with rugby league”.

In 1983 she founded Lepton Old Boys’ Rugby Club for 13-year olds. This involvedhaving to find a pitch to play on, coax local firms to donate the players’ kit and organise the team.

She later went on to become secretary of Paddock Amateur Rugby League Football Club. Her highest official position was as secretary of The British Amateur Rugby League Association (BARLA) where she was responsible for all junior league team registrations.

In 1986 one of the players died on the rugby pitch and the insurance company involved did not pay compensation to his family. Mrs Smalley took it upon herself to write to every professional football and rugby league team in England to raise money for his widow and children. The response was fantastic and Brian Clough said he thought she was superb

In 1993/4 Mrs Smalley’s contribution to rugby was recognised by BARLA at an awards ceremony when she won the prestigious Clubman of the Year title. She was the only person in the history of the award to be nominated by more than one team.

A former Greenhead High School pupil, Mrs Smalley, nee Brook, was born and brought up in Almondbury. Although not keen on academic lessons, she excelled at sport from an early age. As a schoolgirl she was Huddersfield Table Tennis Champion, played hockey for Huddersfield Ladies and was an excellent swimmer and diver.

Her passion for sport was passed on to her children who between them became keen footballers, a Yorkshire judo champion, a member of the county gymnastics squad and a junior Yorkshire rugby league player.

Mrs Smalley leaves a husband Graham and four children.

The funeral service will be held on Thursday (March 24) at 2.15pm at All Hallows Church, Almondbury, followed by burial at Almondbury Cemetery. This will be followed by a buffet at Lepton Highlanders.

The family invites all those who knew Mrs Smalley to join them at the service to celebrate her life.