The East Yorkshire Referees' Society has joined forces with Pocklington RUFC, Pocklington School and the school's old boys' association to commission a new trophy in memory of popular East Yorkshire rugby union referee Terry Hardaker, who died last year.

Terry started his rugby career at Archbishop Holgate's Grammar School, York, where he captained the first XV, and, after moving to Pocklington to teach English at Pocklington School, he contributed more than 30 years' service to local rugby.

Starting out as a coach of junior sides at Pocklington School, he became increasingly involved in refereeing, graduating from reffing the odd school game to become a respected official throughout the North East.

He moved on to be one of the North's top referees' assessors, and did a stint as a Yorkshire Schools selector.

He also inspired generations of English students, The Press's Sports Editor, Martin Jarred, among them.

In addition, he was a Pocklington RUFC committeeman for several years, including a spell as the Good Friday Pock 7s supremo, and after retiring at Pocklington School he became treasurer of the school's old boys' association.

Commissioning the trophy was the idea of the East Yorkshire Referees' Society, and it will be presented at the end of each season to the local club that is deemed by referees to be the most sporting on the junior rugby circuit.

This was felt to be particularly appropriate due to Terry's keen involvement with junior rugby. Even after he retired from being in charge of Saturday club games, he continued to ref junior matches at Pock on Sunday mornings.

East Yorkshire Referees' Society chairman Neil Readman, from Beilby, asked Terry's former teaching colleague, Pete Edwards, to create a special trophy, and was delighted to receive the cast bronze in the form of a Shakespearian hand holding a rugby ball - commemorating Terry's joint passions of Shakespeare and rugby, He was working for a doctorate in Shakespearian studies when he died.

The Yorkshire Referees' Society can support anyone thinking of taking up refereeing at any level. Several refs have taken first steps in East Yorkshire junior games and gone on to the highest levels, and anyone wanting further details can contact Neil on 07860 350858.