KEIGHLEY Rugby Union Club's jack of all trades Alden Phillips had his hard work acknowledged in nominations for

for three volunteer awards.

The club's fixture secretary – he does much else besides – was put forward at district, county and national level.

Of course, the vast majority of volunteers do their work expecting no reward, and Phillips is among their number.

"Every club needs an Alden," said Keighley RUFC chairman Sam Griffin.

"He is our statistician, our IT man, part of the Wednesday maintenance gang, is our representative on the Aire-Wharfe district committee and films our games for dvds – he does everything.

"He is always prepared to help out. He is a grafter and we would be lost without him."

Phillips said: "I think I was nominated for all three by Bob Swift, who is our volunteer co-ordinator.

"I went to the Aire-Wharfe West District function at Huddersfield in early May, the Yorkshire volunteer event at Leeds Beckett University on May 27 and the national RFU event at Luscombe Mitsubishi Leeds' showroom on June 2.

"The Leeds Beckett do was really nice, while there were 42 national volunteer events around the country as Mitsubishi are sponsors of the RFU, and the winners get to drive a Mitsubishi for a year!"

Phillips didn’t scoop any of the overall prizes he was up for but did receive a branded fleece and certificate for his national nomination, which was part of England Rugby and Mitsubishi Motors’ Volunteer of the Year Awards.

The programme has involved over 1,500 volunteers and was launched in January.

Graham Smithson, Luscombe Mitsubishi Leeds' sales manager, said: "We were delighted with the evening – the turnout was outstanding, which highlights what a great job Mitsubishi are doing in supporting rugby union at grass-roots level.

"Managing director Robin Luscombe and I presented prizes to over 30 finalists, who were acknowledged for their outstanding voluntary support for rugby, and William Aiden Phillips, of Keighley RUFC, was very pleased to receive his branded fleece and certificate in recognition of his hard work."

The Volunteer of the Year Awards is part of Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer Recognition Programme – a partnership with England Rugby which provides opportunities to recognise and reward the volunteers who make up an integral part of the game.