Longford RFC and Leinster Rugby stood proudly together on Friday night last as one of their own; Pat Fitzgerald was presented with the coveted Mr. Boots award in front of a packed Longford RFC clubhouse…
Current Junior Vice President of the IRFU, Fitzgerald accepted the coveted green jacket to join an illustrious club that includes the likes of Niall O’Driscoll, Art Campbell and its first recipient back in 1981, Dick Smyth.
The Mr. Boots award is presented every year to someone who has excelled in their work and contribution to Junior Rugby and was introduced after the retirement of the great Willie John McBride back in 1980.
One of his last games was against Arklow RFC and afterwards he presented his boots as a memento hence the wording of the prestigious annual IRFU award.
On a busy weekend for Leinster delegates, the turned out in force to honour their colleague before jetting off for Bourdeaux the following morning.
Pat Fitzgerald is a worthy and popular winner and has been in the thick of all that has been good in Irish and in particular Junior Rugby for over two decades. Born in Rathangan, Fitzgerald resided in Ferbane in Count Offaly before making Longford is home and building his rugby roots. A current resident in Castleknock in Dublin, his ties with Longford are as strong as ever.
