Club Honours Matthew McMillan Croft

The Hawkesbury Valley Rugby Club and community will honour the late Matthew McMillan Croft on Saturday, May 22.

Club secretary, Steve Harkins urged the community to come out to McQuade Park, Windsor in support of the club and to pay their respects. “Crofty was not just the most terrific bloke and true gentleman of the Hawkesbury,” Harkins said.

“He was the best husband, father, brother and son that his family could ever have hoped for.”

Friend and fellow Hawkesbury Valley team member Murray Rolles remembered meeting Crofty while playing for Gordon Rugby in 1996. They finally joined Hawkesbury Valley in 1998.

“He played there until he retired in 2011,” Rolles said.

“Crofty played 173 first grade games and was 1XV captain.”

Crofty passed away suddenly on January 11, 2021 of a heart attack.

Rolles said that members from their opposing teams over the years had already paid their respects and would be in attendance on Saturday.

“Every opponent he played against said he was a true gentleman,” Rolles said.”

Whether you knew Crofty or not, you are urged to make the effort to head to McQuade Park, Windsor on Saturday, dressed in blue, to support the Hawkesbury Valley, the local community club he put so much of his time and effort into.

Crofty’s young daughters will run on the 1XV and his brother will address the club prior to kickoff.

An after-match function has been prepared in honour of Crofty.

They will also remember life member HVRC, Peter Allan and former HVRC 1XV captain Greg Peisley, both of whom have also passed.

The first match kicks off at 12.55 pm, with the 1XV kicking off at 3pm. If you are unable to make the event, matches will be streamed via CLUCH TV.

After drought, bushfires, COVID and, most recently, floods, it is time for the community to come together in support of local Hawkesbury Valley while paying respect to Crofty and his family, along with the Allan and Peisley families.

• Topics:

• Rugby Union