It is with great sadness that we have to announce the passing of former Salford Red Devils secretary Graham McCarty.
Graham originated from the Leyland area of Lancashire, where for many years he was a mathematics teacher at high school level. In later years, he became involved with his first love and took secretarial levels in sport and his first venture into rugby league was the secretarial position at Warrington Wolves before moving to Salford during the reign of Kevin Ashcroft in the 1980s.
Graham went on to work alongside Kevin Tamati, Gary Jack ,Andy Gregory and John Harvey with great commitment and professionalism. Upon Graham’s retirement from the sport, he went to live in the Marbella area of Spain and enjoyed many years there in the sun enjoying a well deserved, more leisurely life style.
Former Chairman Dr John A Wilkinson OBE gave a personal message:
“In the 80s and 90s, one of the most important roles at any club was the club secretary and Salford was blessed with, in my opinion, one of the very best in Graham McCarty.
“When you think of the role, it was so diverse and took the responsibility of really running the club at all levels. His responsibilities ranged from board meetings, players contracts, doing the wages and the ground safety certificate arrangements for players’ operations. On a matchday, his role went from organising gatemen, match stewards, the food served to the players and match official timekeeper – counting the gate takings and taking it to the bank to put into the night safe. A far cry of how today’s game is administered.
“One of Graham’s renowned sayings was “leave it with me” – this always bought him time especially with the players. It is with such sadness to me personally to think of a world without Graham McCarty, who was a real character and would light up any room he entered. He was certainly a gentleman who will never be forgotten.”