It’s a long overdue acknowledgement for a man who helped found Armidale Old Boys back in 1983 with the likes of Eris Dooner.

A life member of Old Boys, he was there when Old Boys and Armidale City merged to form Armidale Blues and is also a life member of Armidale Blues, who won a second successive New England Rugby Union first grade premiership at Bellevue Oval on Saturday.

He’s been president a few times but has served mainly as secretary, something he still does today.

He has the distinction of being awarded life membership of both clubs, an honour which has been bestowed on very few members of either club. 

 Osborne epitomises the true nature of the volunteers in NSW Country Rugby Union who work tirelessly, and often not acknowledged, to ensure rugby union continues in regional and rural New South Wales. 

He admits it has been tough at times.

“It depends on how the club is going,” he said of help and support from within and without the club.

“If we’re going well you seem to have a lot of people helping out but when you’re not performing well on the paddock then you get less help.”

He’s been one of the true believers at the club, through good and bad.

He thanks the core of hard workers and good friends who have helped make Armidale Blues a powerful club, such a Jim Pennington, current president Gerard “Moose” Stephen,  Jason Wall, Mark Charters, Anthony McMillan and first grade coach Allan Jones.

“Allan has an incredible record,” Osborne said.

“He’s never coached a first grade side that hasn’t made a grand final.

“But we’ve just got a very good crew here.”

Osborne has been a driving force of the Armidale Rugby Club.

He manages and runs all aspects of the club’s activities which includes administration, player recruitment and registration, match day canteens, ground maintenance, fundraising activities and the clubhouse building committee. 

He also has an involvement with junior development which incorporates the TryRugby Programs and the junior gala days and carnivals conducted in Armidale. 

 Osborne now becomes the NSW Country Rugby Union’s nomination to the NSW Rugby Union for the state’s award, the winner of which will be nominated for the Australian Rugby Union Volunteer of the Year.