Brian Cartwright Tribute

Brian Cartwright

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the death of Brian Cartwright. Brian had been suffering from cancer for some time and passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Brian was a professional rugby league player with Batley. He then became a groundsman at Batley, Elland Road and South Leeds Stadium and also, for many years, worked for the Rugby Football League at major events. He was a popular and recognisable face throughout the game.

From the RFL's point of view Brian was their honorary groundsman helping to put matches on at venues which didn't traditionally stage Rugby League, from Old Trafford to the Dublin Showground taking in the Isle of Man, Wembley and football grounds too numerous to mention. For the last 10 years Brian was responsible for transporting the Challenge Cup (and other equipment) to the Challenge Cup final. He also acted as kit manager to the Great Britain team in the late 80s and early 90s. If you've read Brian's book "Pitch Battles Galore" you'll have a good feeling for the work he used to carry out and some of the problems he solved for the RFL over the years.

Brian was a good man, a hard grafter who did everything for the love of the game without expecting personal reward or recognition. He will be sadly missed.

Twickenham's Keith Kent spoke affectionately of him, " Brian had been the face of rugby league for many a year. He was the most honest, down to earth groundsman you could ever get to meet. Ask anyone about him and everyone would say the same."

The funeral service is due to take place on Monday 17 November at Woodkirk Church, Leeds Road at 2.00pm and then at Dewsbury Crematorium at 3.00pm.