truebluefan

Following the All Party Parliamentary Rugby League Committee Annual Dinner at the House of Lords earlier this week the Committee also named the recipient of their annual merit award.

The dinner was attended by over one hundred and fifty people including MP's, the House of Lords,individuals involved within BARLA, the media and broadcasting.

During this prestigious event BARLA Chair Spen Allison was awarded the Committee's Annual Merit Award for his contribution to Amateur Rugby League

Secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Rugby League Committee Neil Turner MP on the award to Spen Allison said,

"We are delighted to present Spen Allison with this annual merit award. It is well deserved and the All Party Committee wish to recognize his contribution over the years. We congratulate him and wish him all the best."

BARLA Chair Spen Allison has been involved in the amateur game since he was a teenager when he was one of the founders of Southlands ARL in 1955 and has been involved in the York and District Amateur Rugby League since 1958, BARLA from 1973 and was recognised by York & District Sports Federation last month.

BARLA Chair Spen Allison said,

"I am absolutely over the moon to be the recipient of the All Party Parliamentary Rugby League Committee Merit Award at the annual dinner at the House of Lords earlier this week.

"I didn't know anything about this until I was named, after it was described what the winner had achieved within the game. It suddenly sunk in who they were talking about when my name was announced and dawned on me. I am not normally lost for words but on this occasion I was shocked and dumbstruck.

"Although I was named as the winner of the award I take this on behalf of BARLA, the largest amateur rugby league organisation in the world. This is a tremendous accolade for the amateur game and the thousands of volunteers that administer the game week in week out."