This year, the Foundation have decided to honour the late, Bernard Atha CBE, by dedicating the PDRL Sportsman of the Year Award in his name.
The award was presented ahead of the England vs Tonga Test Series at AMT Headingley Stadium by members of the Atha family.
Bernard Atha served as an elected councillor for 57 years and his death in October 2022 at the age of 94 followed a life dedicated to public service.
He was also a pivotal figure in disability sports as the Founding Chair of the British Paralympic Association (BPA). Here he helped consolidate and bring together the groups of national disability sport organisations that created the British Paralympic Committee before it became the BPA in 1989.
Atha was appointed OBE in the New Year Honours of 1991, being recognised for his “services to sport, particularly sport for the disabled”.
For the inaugural presentation of the award, members of our PDRL team voted for their winner based on character both on and off the pitch, and overall sportsmanship in representing the Leeds Rhinos.
This year the award goes to James King, a fine example of someone who does all the above.
James has been recognised for his commitment to the Rhinos badge, constantly being a positive influence on those around him and going above and beyond to push PDRL in the right direction.
James joined the Leeds Rhinos PDRL in 2019 and has since flourished in confidence. Before joining the team, James found himself close to dropping out of university whilst struggling socially. Since becoming part of the team, he has had many personally achievements including receiving First Class Honours in his degrees.
His achievements reach even further, with James taking part in the inaugural Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon in 2023, inspiring his teammates and raising money for the Foundation.
CEO of the Foundation, Bob Bowman, said: “Speaking as a Leeds born and bred resident, we as a city should be very grateful of the work that Bernard did.”
“An amazing man, a committed local Councillor, he stood apart for so long as a pioneering campaigner for improving accessibility for disabled people to enjoy taking part in sport.”
“I am convinced that without his efforts we at the Rhinos would not be here today with a wheelchair, learning disability and physical disability teams. Therefore it is an honour today to announce James King from our PDRL side as the inaugural recipient of the annual Bernard Atha award”
Bernard’s eldest niece, Liz Carter, who was at the presentation with other members of his family also commented:
“Our uncle Bernard was a truly remarkable man, and his achievements were also remarkable as well as numerous, in the arts, sport, politics and many areas of public service.”
“But the ones that were probably the most important to him were those involving sport for people with disability. Passionate about inclusion and wholly committed, he was the driving force behind the consolidation of many disparate disability sports groups and the creation of the British Paralympic Association in 1989. He was unequivocal in his relentless pursuit of inclusion, and his work again broke down barriers and ensured that athletes with learning disabilities were included in Paralympic sport in 2012.”
“Bernard never sought plaudits, but I’m sure he would be pleased to be honoured with this enduring trophy to highlight the worthy winners of what will be an annual award in his name for athletes with disabilities”.
As a Foundation we are delighted to have the honour of naming this award after the late Bernard Atha, and give our congratulations to James on being the first person to receive it.