NEWTOWN Rugby League Football Club legend Frank Farrington passed away on December 9, aged 88.

The former first-grade player was a long-serving club secretary and director.

He grew up in the heart of Bluebag territory, St Peters, and among his many achievements as secretary was the signing of Jack Gibson as head coach for the landmark 1973 season. Along with Gibson, he rebranded Newtown from the Bluebags to the Jets.

Farrington was graded with the Newtown RLFC in 1949 and played with the club until 1959. He also boxed professionally in the light-heavyweight division between 1946 to 1955.

Farrington was secretary of Newtown on three occasions between 1968 and 1970, 1972 and 1974, and also 1977 to 1991. He worked with NSW Rugby League from 1975 to 1977.

Terry Williams noted in his 1993 history of Newtown RLFC, Out of the Blue: “Farrington’s greatest work was at the club level where he gave his heart and soul.”