PAUL RICHARDS - A TRIBUTE
BY STEVE JASPAN

It’s not too often that you come across someone who is decent, kind and loyal but when you have known and worked with a person like Paul Richards over three decades many more wonderful attributes come to the surface.

Paul has said farewell to South African Hockey after being employed for 22 years, the majority as General Manager of the South African Hockey Association. During that time he has logged thousands and thousands of “flying” hours in the service of hockey - always uncomplaining and willing to serve even well beyond normal working hours. Even during some really tough times for SA Hockey and himself personally he has phlegmatically endured “the slings and arrows of misfortune” and soldiered on with equanimity.

Paul could probably write a book about South African Hockey, maybe even three like Stig Larsen’s Millennium trilogy but what has characterized Paul is that he is universally liked. (He is also probably as tenacious but not as decorated or tattooed as the heroine in Larsen’s first book – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo).

His contribution to South African Hockey has been immense and he has undoubtedly the best knowledge of the general nuts and bolts of the domestic game and its administration.

His knowledge of rules and technical issues which include tournaments and umpiring has few peers in South Africa. He is himself a highly competent technical official.

Over the past 15 years he has stood shoulder to shoulder with the incumbent SAHA President of that particular time and helped to guide the fortunes of South African Hockey – still regarded as one of the world’s top 13 hockey nations!

For this he has the eternal gratitude of SA Hockey Executives, Council Members, players and officials alike.

Nor did he complain when assigned duties after hours – whether on weekends or nights – at countless tournaments, Council Meetings, SASCOC and Macro Sports Body gatherings and even SAHA Executive Meetings where he often locked up hockey headquarters well after midnight – only to be greeted at 07h15 the next morning by a phone call to the office from the then SAHA President.

Like a Dickenson hero he doggedly carried on through thick and thin directing the day-to-day operations of the game he loves, invoking the respect and affection of hundreds of colleagues and friends.

Paul, I am proud to say I am one of this latter brand who are proud to be deemed one of your friends. We thank you sincerely and unreservedly for all you have done for SA Hockey and enriching our lives.

Please remain part of our hockey family and join us at events whenever you can.