Towering figure in junior sport, George Brough, dies aged 82

George Brough, of Southowram, helped countless girls and boys in Calderdale participate in junior sport, spending a lot of his own funds in his efforts, and is described as an honest, kind person with a big heart.

George helped set up the Calderdale Soccer Group in 1994 and was also involved in helping Beacon Rangers acquire a lease for land that backed onto his house and also helped with the shell of what he hoped would become the changing rooms - a project that is still ongoing.

He resided over football events at Brighouse Gala, Manor Heath and at The Shay, making or paying for the equipment, flags and mini goalposts, and paid for children to attend school holiday courses as well as their ‘subs’ at their clubs.

He was also a lifelong Halifax Town fan, helping to build and maintain the Skircoat Road stand when it was enlarged following the club’s promotion to the old third division, and had to re-design the roof on-the-hoof as the architect had got the measurements wrong and the stand frame was bigger than the roof.

George repeatedly undertook running repairs at the ground - often working 60 feet in the air with no support for the ladder other than someone footing it.

George would also volunteer to clear snow from the pitch on the morning of a Halifax game and did lots of jobs around the ground free of charge.

If anyone would like the details of George’s funeral, they can email [email protected].