Pip McIntosh awarded life membership by Bathurst Bulldogs during 2021 presentation day

Pip McIntosh was been a valued member of the Bathurst Bulldogs community for decades, and his services to the blue and gold were acknowledged on Saturday afternoon when he was awarded life membership.

McIntosh, who has enjoyed premiership success with Bulldogs as a player and coach, began his time with the club in the 1984 colts side and just this year coached his daughters' senior women's team to a title.

Much has happened between those two years for McIntosh, who said he always felt welcomed at the club regardless of the position he's held.

"It's an honour. I'm thrilled to receive it. It's not something that comes along every day," he said.

"The mateship at this club is amazing. I can get on with everyone at this club, from the older statesmen to the new kids coming through. It's easy to develop friendships.

"It's such a big plus, and I'm getting a similar buzz by seeing my daughters make some of their best friends at the club."

McIntosh returned to the Bulldogs' coaching ranks recently after a hiatus from the club, and to him it was as if he never left.

"It started with colts. I came back in 1992 after being away from town for a while, and played and coached through to around 2002," he said.

"I had a hiatus before coming back to coach in 2017 and served on the committee as vice-president for a few years after that.

"Then I finished coaching the girls this year, so it feels great to have done a little bit of everything."

Some of McIntosh's fondest memories on the field include bagging a try in both the colts and first grade grand finals on the same day, as well as the 1994 premiership.

"That was a bit of a special feeling," he said of the '94 triumph.

"It was a pretty close group of blokes who just came together and managed to break a nine year drought."

But he finds it hard to put anything ahead of this year's premiership success as part of the senior women's coaching staff.

McIntosh's daughters Lily and Bella were a part of that title glory, giving the family the rare treat of having three people involved in a single successful squad.

"That was a big thrill," McIntosh said.

"I stopped coaching in 2003 and I didn't really go to much football because I was looking after my daughters and they were playing basketball and netball.

"Here we are all these years later and now they're playing rugby, and Lily's on the committee working hard. They absolutely love it down there.

"Now there's a big family involvement at the club and that gives you a great buzz. Women's rugby has been a huge benefit to the club, and it's fair to say that they're the backbone of the club right now."

McIntosh was awarded his life membership during Saturday's combined annual general meeting and season presentation event at Ashwood Park.

McIntosh will be stepping back from the women's coaching staff in 2022 but will remain heavily involved in club activities.

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