RFL pay tribute to Steve Ball as he retires from leading Benevolent Fund role

The Rugby Football League today joined RL Cares in paying tribute to Steve Ball MBE, who has retired from his position as the first General Manager of the Rugby League Benevolent Fund.

Ball has been a hugely influential and popular figure in Rugby League for many decades, including spells as chief executive of Hull FC, chairman of both the Batley and Hunslet clubs, and as a senior director at Leeds Rhinos, where he was central to the early stages of the substantial redevelopment of Headingley Stadium.

But it is through his work with the RL Benevolent Fund over the last 18 years that Ball has possibly made his most important contribution, offering support and guidance to players and their families during the darkest times in their lives.

Tony Sutton, the Chief Executive of the RFL, said:

“Steve is a one-off, a unique character whose personal qualities, passion for and knowledge of Rugby League made him the perfect man at the right time for the sport’s Benevolent Fund.

“He has been there when needed, when tragedy has struck, and has always stayed the course.

“He might not be the most familiar name in Rugby League, but he has been one of the most important, for those directly affected by those occasional tragedies, but also for that reason, for the wider sport.

“On behalf of all his current and former colleagues at the RFL, we wish him the long and happy retirement which he deserves. But we very much hope he will remain a familiar face in Rugby League – he will always be very welcome.”

Tim Adams, the Chair of RL Cares, said: “From joining some two years after the formation of the Benevolent Fund, Steve immediately made his mark.  He has an exceptional ability to empathise and sympathise when giving help to all, particularly at the outset when their suffering and trauma is at its worst.

“It is a fact that all those people we assist trust him implicitly and become lifelong friends of his. Steve has always gone the extra mile in fulfilling his role with us and was always available at any time, day or night, to meet our beneficiaries and their families.

“There is no doubt that Steve has played a huge part in the success of the Benevolent Fund and its standing within the game.

“He will be a hard act to follow, and I know that I speak on behalf of everyone in wishing him a long and happy retirement.”

Steve’s role has seen him act as a rock to people involved in every tragedy endured by the sport, including the shooting of former Whitehaven player Garry Purdham in 2010, the death on the field of Keighley scrum-half Danny Jones in 2015 and the serious injury suffered by Hull KR player Mose Masoe in 2020.

Just as importantly, he has delivered an outreach programme that has seen the Benevolent Fund make contact with players who had suffered life-changing injuries in previous decades and commit to supporting them for the rest of their lives.

In typical style, Steve’s retirement will be packed full of rugby league activity, including a continuation of his supportive work with Newcastle Thunder, and a plan to establish a new amateur rugby league club in the North East, not too far from his home in Hexham. He will also be involved in a number of rugby league heritage programmes, an area he feels very passionate about.

Steve Ball said: “Rugby league is in my blood, always has been and always will be. I have so many happy memories and good friends from my time in the sport, going all the way back to my childhood in east Hull.

“I was asked recently what my greatest achievement is, and someone suggested it was being awarded the MBE in 2021 for services to rugby league charities.

“Of course, it was a great honour to be recognised by the Queen, but what makes me most proud is that despite the difficulties of the role I have stayed true to the pureness of my principles: kindness, care and consideration.

“I have always known the importance of just listening to people. I have been into people’s houses after a tragedy and the family has brought out all their photo albums: I sit there with them, go through the photos and listened to them relive their cherished memories. People need to be listened to.

“I’ve never led them to believe I can cure their ills or turn their lives around. I have endeavoured to encourage people to help themselves.

“Sometimes when people are in the darkest corner they look for direction and the best assistance is often stepping forward themselves.

“My biggest achievement is being there with people when they are in dark times and still being there when they emerge into the light.”

The RL Benevolent Fund will continue to provide lifelong support to all its beneficiaries following Steve's retirement and will continue to work close with all stakeholders and supporters, including the Steve Prescott Foundation, which has consistently gone the extra mile to raise funds for the charity and raise its profile over the last 20 years.