Huddersfield Giants chairman Ken Davy has led the tributes to Keith Burhouse, who died at the weekend.
His death at the age of 68 comes just a month after he was inducted onto the Rugby League Roll of Honour in recognition of his outstanding voluntary services to the game.
He died of pneumonia in hospital in Leeds after spending the past decade battling cancer.
A lifelong-long Huddersfield RL supporter, he spent over 30 years carrying out a vast array of voluntary tasks for the club, from replacing roofs and rewiring the old Fartown ground to driving the team bus and raising money for associated charities.
To honour his dedication to the claret and gold cause he was made an associate director of the Giants by club owner Davy, who knows he will be sadly missed throughout the rugby league community.
“Throughout his life Keith was a tower of strength for Huddersfield Rugby League Club, his beloved Fartown,” said Davy.
“There is probably no job he hasn’t done or task he wouldn’t undertake to help Huddersfield’s professional rugby league club survive and prosper.
“Keith, ably and loyally supported by his wife Carol and all his family, was always ready to lend a hand whatever the task and even in Fartown’s darkest days he was there to freely give whatever help and support was needed to keep the club going, never seeking personal reward or recognition.
“I am pleased that last year the success of the claret and gold Huddersfield Giants in winning the Super League Leaders Shield was something that Keith was able to share in despite his continuing illness.
“It was also a pleasure for everyone connected with the club that last year we were able to bestow the first ever ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ on Keith and the Burhouse family.
“All of us at the Huddersfield Giants and everyone involved in the game of Rugby League in general are all the poorer for the passing of Keith Burhouse. He was a rugby league giant.”
Keith spent the past couple of years helping with the town’s RL Heritage project, and organisers have immediately announced the Heritage Project Rugby League book, which includes a chapter about the immense contribution of Keith and his family to the Huddersfield club, will be dedicated to him.
On top of that and despite his continuing illness, he spent last year cataloguing all of the collection at the RL Heritage Centre, which had been based at the George Hotel, and arranged for it to be stored securely until a new home is found.
The Centre was owned by Sky TV summariser Mike ‘Stevo’ Stephenson, who joined Davy in leading the tributes to his close friend.
“Keith was a wonderful gentleman who gave so much to our game and his loyalty and service to my heritage museum at the George Hotel can never be underestimated,” he said.
“I will miss him and his passing away is a sad loss.
“The Australians have a great saying that a true friend is a ‘brick’, solid, dependable , trustworthy and the first bloke you would invite to your BBQ, a mate.
It sums up my friend Keith in one sentence.”
Mr Burhouse worked for many years at the University of Huddersfield as an energy manager.
He leaves two sons and grandchildren.
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