Andy Dawson – An Obituary

Andy joined the Society in 1999 and was a very well-liked and dedicated member.
I want to thank Chris Meadows, a fellow member and long-time friend of Andy, for preparing the following obituary.

Paul Houston
Chairman
Manchester & District Rugby Union Referees’ Society

 

 

 

 

Andy Dawson – An Obituary

I first met Andy “Daws” Dawson in the mid-80s at Chorley RUFC as a 14-year-old training with the Second XV and turning out for the U16s. I had come from school during a teachers’ strike when no extracurricular activities were taking place; several rugby teachers encouraged some of us to go to our local club. In my 38 years of knowing him I don’t think I have met a kinder soul or someone with less ego. He was always bubbly and full of life and his enthusiasm for rugby and rugby folk was infectious.

In those early days Daws, was still plying his trade as a utility front row / centre (just kidding). In his mind he was, of course, out of the same mould as Steve Thompson or Keith Wood; he would describe himself a modern, free-running, front-rower with devastating handling skills. In the mind of Dave Nickeas, his then erstwhile captain, ”Daws”, he said, “struggles to sidestep a tortoise”. When Dave eventually ran out of excuses for not dropping him for being a bit too slow, Daws transposed and became a Chorley legend!

Never let it be forgotten that Daws was a tremendous clubman, being a member for many years and was known fondly by everyone at the club and further afield. He progressed into refereeing with other Chorley diehards including the likes of Dudley Wilson, the Laughing Assassin. The two spent many a Saturday evening back at the club regaling fellow clubmen of their continuing on-field rugby exploits as referees!

Daws had a few scares in his life. As you may know he was obsessed with science and spent over 30 years teaching Zoological and Forensic science at various colleges. I remember a tale that he had been sub-aqua diving while on holiday in Africa. He unfortunately contracted some form of viral infection during the trip; it was decided to medevac him back to the UK for treatment. He suffered with chronic jaundice and for a while it was touch and go whether he would survive! I seem to recall that as a result he had to be more careful about alcohol consumption following his recovery.

He was a dedicated Society member, first and foremost as a referee. As the body tired, he switched to the role of Assessor but always with a coach’s hat on. He relished taking a developmental role in progressing referees. He dedicated many years as Re-appointments Secretary much to the chagrin of his partner. Often Andy would himself take on as many as five or six games a week to try plugging holes in the fixture lists of games and help clubs. As one former member put it, on Andy’s watch there was a chance of an appointments lottery and sometimes your numbers came in big. As late as noon on Saturday Daws would cover a school match in the morning and then a match in the afternoon.

Alongside his Appointments role, Daws was a founder member of the Regional Groups in Society, leading the West group. These were held between main Society meetings. At the time, those main meetings often had upwards of 130 referees, coaches and assessors in attendance and consequently could be intimidating for new referees. The Regional meetings were designed as a more friendly and supportive introduction to the Society. He also ran Midweek Appointments, which included appointing to the U16 floodlit tournament at Preston Grasshoppers. This created a natural pathway for developing young, up-and-coming referees.

Needless to say Daws excelled in these roles supporting the “newbies” and the “oldies” alike. I suspect he will be most remembered for his encouraging and unwavering support of less experienced referees, making them feel supported in their role and development.

Throughout his refereeing career, as in his life, he was always eager to help support friends and colleagues in their endeavours. This positive attribute extended beyond rugby to his professional outlook. He sought to support and progress people wherever he could; myself included, for which I am eternally grateful. On my return from Dubai in 2005 and after a period of time struggling to get a permanent teaching post, he arranged some part-time teaching hours at Preston College, which eventually led to a fulltime post. He then encouraged me to move towards university tutoring and to develop my professional skills.

He also did this for others within MaDRefs, such as Andy Daniels by giving him a leg-up into teaching. He pushed him into qualifying through sourcing and financing a PGCE and was always on hand to listen to a whinge or offer advice.

Daws thrived in his professional career, in successfully managing several departments at Preston College, ending his career as Director of Zoology at Hopwood Hall College. As evidenced in his Facebook feed, he took a blend of excellence with empathy into his professional life and his dealings with both students and colleagues. The respect he garnered in others is perhaps reflected in him deservedly being made an Honorary Member of the Society, an accolade which made him very proud.

Daws was a wholehearted rugby man. Much like a stick of rock if you cut him in half, it would say rugby in his core. He lived and breathed the game. This gusto he took into the social side of rugby and was always game for a laugh.

He was once appointed to Edinburgh on exchange with a young Andy Daniels and an infamous referee called “16 pints N&*$”. Legend has it they travelled up to Edinburgh on an international Saturday. They went about their games and then regrouped at a Travelodge in the City ready to meet their Edinburgh hosts. Suited and booted, sporting blazers and ties they headed out into the nightlife of Edinburgh. Their hosts managed to blagg a nightclub that these were in fact international referees (technically true!). They were ushered inside to bubbly and other free drinks. Many hours later “16 pints N&*$” smuggled his way into the Travelodge marginally beating the sunrise.

On arriving back in the Preston area, Daws invited the hungover “16-pint N&*$” to the Ley Inn for a restorative viewing of the Six Nations, where he promptly rinsed Daws for six pints of Guinness before driving himself home. This gentleman of rugby simply relished the social side of the game as much as the playing and refereeing side.

My abiding memory of Daws will be his unashamed enthusiasm for the game and all things rugby. He was a rugby hoover. He couldn’t get enough of the game and all the people connected to it. On exchange to Dubai he smashed the record for most games refereed despite a touch of heatstroke. A quick swig of water and he was off to the next game before hitting the social side as hard as the night set in. On that exchange, and during some down time at the beach, he, being a zoological professional was found merrily snapping pictures of a “sea snake” So much so that two journeymen in the form of Messrs Lodge and Bennett (snr) had this pointed out to them and were merrily co -educating the other MaDRefs contingent of Bill Taylor, David Zlaaaato Hust and Chris Bennett to the dangers of sea snakes…before they realised they had been eagerly taking pictures of passing sea rope.

Many a referee will mention how supportive Daws was of them and how passionately he championed them. It is a real shame that many a future referee will miss Daws’ joie du rugby and joie du vie. He will be sorely missed by many rugby folk. May you Rest in Peace big man and I hope you are bringing that Laughing Assassin up to speed.

Chris Meadows
May 2025