Thousands of young players have Keith to thank for their enjoyment of rugby. He coached minis and youth at the club, as well as being schools liaison officer, was chairman of  North Lincolnshire Schools Rugby for 30 years, their representative on Humberside Schools and coached Humberside Schools U15s.

His many other roles have included President, Fixture Secretary, Scunthorpe representative on the Lincolnshire RFU Committee, Vice Chairman, in charge of Planning and Development, Match Day Chairman, Programme Secretary, and taking charge of club maintenance.

Nothing has been too much trouble for Keith, whether clearing stones, seeding and irrigating pitches, shifting tons of topsoil, marking the white lines or mopping changing rooms. Everyone knows and loves him as was clear when on a holiday in Norfolk he was told his restaurant bill had already been paid and discovered it had been covered by someone he introduced to rugby in the eighties. The man had subsequently enjoyed playing for many years and was now volunteering like Keith.

Keith’s son Tim is following in dad’s footsteps as Scunthorpe’s first team coach and will together with the rest of the family, friends and club members be toasting the birthday of Scunthorpe’s hero.