Michael Lubbock

Mike was a proud Leicester Tiger scrum half, playing 95 occasions between 1955 and 1961. Mike moved to Leicester from Norfolk and captained the Loughborough 1st XV and represented Leicestershire. Mike continued his involvement in rugby with Suffolk, Eastern Counties and London Division as a coach and selector. 

Mike and his wife, Jill, moved to Woodbridge in 1961 where the family embardked on a 47 year involvement with Woodbridge School. 

Mike was Head of Boys, PE and Games and became a boarding housemaster. The renowed Woodbridge 1st XV striped shirt was modelled on his beloved Leicester Tigers and generations of students proudly wore the shirt, with many continuing their rugby-playing prowess after finishing school. 

In 1969, Mike was one of the Woodbridge Rugby Club founding members and brought together local likeminded individuals to form Woodbridge RUFC. The first match was played on Tollers Field against a school XV. Mike became the first Woodbridge Rugby Club captain and led the club as President for 24 years. Over the following decades, many school rugby players went on to represent the Woodbridge Rugby Club through the U18/U19 Colts and senior teams. 

Mike remained so immensely proud of the success and growth of the club, which has been built to provide a family friendly, community rugby club for future generations. 

In 2006, Mike was awarded the Torch Award presented by the Duchess of Wessex as national recognition for his work with rugby. A year later, Mike received the Suffolk Sport Lifetime Achievement Award followed by an invitation to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party. 

In January 2015 Mike, accompanied by his son Adam, went to the Leicester v Northampton LV Cup Match and was treated as a Guest of Honour including a mention in the programme. Steve Kenney took Mike to the President's Box and introduced him  to Dusty Hare, Paul Dodge, Peter Wheeler, and others. That day the Tigers did not dissapoint with a win over Northampton. 

Mike remained a proud Leicester Tiger right to the end and was particurarly proud of their Premiership title in 2022.