George Glasgow

George Glasgow, director of the Sports Council for Northern Ireland from 1974-90, had a significant influence on sports development in Ulster.  A pupil at Cookstown High School, Stranmillis College and Loughborough, he gained many honours as a hockey player and was appointed Irish national coach from 1969-70 and also coached the indoor national team.

While teaching at Kilkeel High School, Glasgow played as a centre forward for Newry Olympic, then from 1955-70 for Belfast YMCA, winning an Irish Senior Cup medal in 1961. He captained Ulster and received the honorary membership of the Irish Hockey Union and Award Of Merit.

George also had a love for other sports such as basketball – acting as secretary and chairman of the Ulster Council ABAI, President of the ABAI, Irish national coach and international referee appointed to the Olympic qualiying tournament in 1964 and the European Cup, 1965-67. In 1965-66 he was Irish K2 champion, winner of the Liffey Canoe Descent and honoured with the Irish Canoe Union Presidency. Also involved in judo, the British Association awarded him life membership and the Northern Ireland section elected him its foundation chairman.

As an administrator, George was involved in a wide range of organisations, Northern Ireland Central Council of Physical Recreation to the Ulster Sports Trust, British International and Council of Europe Sports Committees, European Sports Conference and European Union Sports Forum, British Ministers’ Party for Centres of Excellence, Belfast Marathon Committee chairman and director and arbitrator for the British Sports Dispute Resolution Panel.