SUFFOLK rugby legend Mike Lubbock is in line for a top national sporting award for his remarkable achievements within the local community.Lubbock, who retired from the position of president at Woodbridge Rugby Club this year at the age of 74, has been put forward for recognition from the Torch Trophy Trust.

SUFFOLK rugby legend Mike Lubbock is in line for a top national sporting award for his remarkable achievements within the local community.

Lubbock, who retired from the position of president at Woodbridge Rugby Club this year at the age of 74, has been put forward for recognition from the Torch Trophy Trust.

He said: “I was led to believe that I had to list my achievements in rugby for the club website, little did I know this was all going towards my nomination.

“The next thing I know I get a call from a close friend warning me of the whole thing, just in case I received details of the nomination through the post.”

The Trust is a nationwide charitable organisation, whose main aim is to encourage voluntary work in sport and other related outdoor activities within local communities.

It awards the 'unsung heroes' of sports who give their time to ensure that sports can flourish at grassroots level.

The trust, of which Sir Bobby Charlton is president, also gives bursaries to volunteers to enable them to assist their club, organisation or community to develop their chosen sport. Lubbock's rugby career took off in 1950, when he captained Norfolk Schools, as well as also captaining Eastern Counties schools and Norwich.

During this period he also represented the RAF, before going on to Loughborough College in 1952. He was made captain in 1955.

He then began a career as a teacher, becoming head of games at Kibworth Grammar School, and around this time played for Stoneygate, before being selected to play for the Leicester Tigers. He played at 1st XV level for the Tigers for five years, and also represented the Barbarians at international level.

In 1961, he arrived at Woodbridge School, as head of games and master in charge of rugby. During his early years at Woodbridge, Mike played for Ipswich, as well as captaining Suffolk in the County Championship.

He soon became a key figure on the regional rugby scene, and it wasn't long before he found himself on the Eastern Counties Suffolk Schools Committee. He also spent time as a selector for Eastern Counties and London Schools.

Lubbock was a founder member of Woodbridge Rugby Club in 1969, and became president in 1982, a position he would remain in for 24 years.

He said: “A few of us were sat around in the bar at Ipswich, talking about what to do next, as we were nearing the end of our playing careers. Somebody mentioned starting up a club out at Woodbridge, and it was simply a case of us getting on with it, and people just turning up.”

He was also president, and coach for both Suffolk and Suffolk Schools' rugby. Lubbock has organised coaching courses for schools in the region for many years.

The Award ceremony will take place on November 29, at the Army and Navy club in Pall Mall, London, and will be hosted by the Countess of Wessex.