NCU Assistant Director & Sponsorship Officer and NI Sports Forum Treasurer Richard Johnson was recognised at the 51st Torch Trophy Trust Awards for his outstanding dedication to sport. Richard’s lifelong volunteering in the sports of cricket and football were recognised as he received the award presented by HRH The Princess Royal.

Other volunteers who have shown outstanding dedication to sport in their local communities were honoured  alongside sporting legend Sir Bobby Charlton CBE.

The Torch Trophy Trust is a charity that recognises and supports volunteers in sport and recreation. Their annual awards are unique in celebrating the often thankless and unnoticed work of volunteers in sport at a very prestigious ceremony.

The Sport and Recreation Alliance has provided the day-to-day support for the Trust on a voluntary basis since 1999. Legacy has always been at the heart of the Trust’s ethos – founded after the 1948 London Olympics with the aim of inspiring and rewarding volunteers, the Trust still uses the 1948 Olympic torch as its symbol.

Richard Johnson Biography
As a finance director for Johnson's Coffee Richard’s volunteer work in the sports sector has been much in demand and he has always given his time generously. He has been involved with cricket both at provincial level in Ulster and at national level in Ireland for 30 years. He was formerly President of Cricket Ireland, Chairman and Treasurer of the Northern Cricket Union and currently sits on the Cricket Ireland Finance Committee, the NCU's Board and is Assistant Director of the NCU's Finance Directorate.

Richard is also an experienced cricket tournament referee and has been the tournament referee in a voluntary capacity at all major cricket events held in the greater Belfast area since 2002. This has included major internationals, cup finals and junior internationals. He was significantly involved in organising the cricket event for last year’s World Police and Fire Games in Belfast – an event which was lauded for the exceptional work of its volunteers.

As treasurer for the Northern Ireland Sports Forum Richard has been a great asset since he joined the board in 2008. He is always one of the first board members to volunteer to help out at events and is a very important part of the organisation. Richard has worked largely in the background for his various organisations but for those who have worked with him he is a well-respected figure. He has given lifelong service and tireless volunteering to sport and recreation in Northern Ireland.