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As London regional director for the Sports Council (later Sport England) from 1989 to 2003, my friend, Andy Sutch, was pivotal in raising the profile of grassroots sport and for laying the groundwork for the successful bid for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. He had joined the strategic planning department of the Sports Council in 1976.

Andy, who has died aged 75, came up with a London sports strategy in 1987 that centred on increasing general participation, especially among marginalised groups. Early to recognise that the capital, given its world city status, should become a leader in world sport, he strongly supported and helped develop the credible, albeit unsuccessful, bid for the 2000 Olympics.

Throughout the 1990s, his focus on inclusion and raising the profile of sport continued. Additionally, he led professional development programmes of national significance in rugby union, including women’s rugby. He successfully argued the case for the Royal Docks to become a water sport venue.

Born in Wakefield, and adopted as a baby by Mary (nee Richardson), and Douglas Sutch, a vicar, Andy early on developed a love of sport, especially cricket and both forms of rugby. After attending Queen Elizabeth grammar school in Wakefield, he studied geography and geology at King’s College London (1969-72), before teaching at City of London school for boys, where he coached rugby and water polo.

After Sport England he joined Business in Sport and Leisure in 2003, creating close links with the business sector. For the first two years he was seconded to the 2012 Olympic bid team. He helped to establish the London Mayor’s Sports Board, joining as a key member. He chaired the London Federation of Sport and Recreation from the mid 2000s and helped to set up the Panathlon Foundation, which he chaired for 10 years from 2013; it led to thousands of children with Send being able to compete in sports. He was a trustee of the London Playing Fields Foundation for nearly 30 years from the mid 90s, responsible for saving many playing fields under threat and chaired Sport Richmond until his death.

Andy was made an honorary fellow of St Mary’s University, Twickenham, but he was always modest about his many achievements.

In 1986 he married Hilary Irving, whom he had met at a conference in Brighton in 1984. She survives him, as does Neil, their son, and two grandchildren.