Friends pay tribute to well-loved Cumbrian rugby icon Dave Varty

Dave Varty played rugby at Broughton Red Rose and for Whitehaven, going on to coach at Broughton Red Rose and then Cockermouth Titans.

He passed away at the age of 53, as the news was announced by Cockermouth Titans Amateur Rugby League club in a statement that read: “Devastating news to announce that ex-head coach and a good friend to all of us Dave Varty has passed away.

“Champion bloke, rest in peace, Dave.”

Paul Taylor, who was coached by him at Broughton Red Rose, spoke of his life and career: “He was just a genuine, nice fella.

“He would do anything for anyone, he coached the kids’ team as well and took them to the under-16s national cup final in 2009.

“He was always good with all age groups, and is a massive loss to the rugby community.”

Dave Varty (left) (Image: Broughton Red Rose)

Paul Osborne, a lifelong friend of Dave’s, spoke on his life, influence, and how he will be missed by him, his family, and friends. 

He said: “David married very young to his first wife when he was about 18.

He was about 13 years older than me but I met him when I was six, and was friends with his eldest son.

“He had a couple of kids when he was 20, and he just looked after everyone.

“He remarried later in life and had three more kids.

“A family man from being a teenager, I grew up in the village with him and through that became best friends with him.

“He coached me in rugby, and I played with him too.

“One of his rugby accolades was that he was part of the coaching staff when Broughton Red Rose won the Cumbrian Cup.

“Dave will be forever missed, because what he did was just think about everybody else before himself.

“I’m godparent to his kids and he was godparent to mine, he treated my kids as his own, and he wouldn’t walk past you in the street without saying hi to you.

“He’s the biggest miss that could ever be, he was a father to me and a best friend all wrapped in one.

“There is no one who will say anything bad about Dave Varty.”