DECADES of service to York Railway Institute RUFC have been marked by the New Lane outfit’s Survivors Club.

Mac Luccock, who has given 73 years to RI as a player and administrator and is known through the Holgate club as “Mr RI”, was honoured at the bi-annual lunch of the Survivors Club, which was set up to allow former players and officials to get together and share stories.

Luccock is one of only five people to have been made honorary life members and has been a true one club man – founding the Survivors Club in 1980.

A convenor at first and then president, Luccock has been buoyed by the fellowship, support and respect that arise when the former players get together.

At RI, he was fixture secretary for six years, honorary secretary for six years, vice-chair for four years and either chair or president for 14 years between 1962 and 1976.

Phil Fowler, who will take over as president of the Survivors Club from Luccock, said: “He set the club up in 1980 responding to requests from some of the pre-war members who wanted to get together and go over old times.

“We meet every six months, roughly – in the late spring, early summer and at Christmas.

“Mac is 90 on December 23 and had given notice of the presidency.

“He was president of the Survivors Club for seven years and he spoke very well at the lunch.

“The whole event is aimed at keeping the lads together. A lot are in their 80s now.”