BRADFORD Amateur Rugby League chief Jack Strother has been recognised by the Rugby Football League with the Award of Merit accolade for his distinguished service to the community game.

The former Wyke centre – who played for the club in their halcyon days in the 1960s, followed by the role of head coach in the early 1990s – is also chairman of the RFL community appeals panel and an ex-vice chair of BARLA.

Strother has reported on the local game for over 20 years as the T&A's amateur rugby league correspondent.