STEVE Clements wears many different hats.

But whichever one he pulls on the aim is the same -- to promote and encourage grassroots rugby league.

His list of roles within the sport is impressive and you need to take a deep breath just to role them all off.

For Clements is chairman and secretary of the North Lancs District League, recruitment officer for the North Lancs League Referee Society and sits on the governing body of the Lancashire Rugby League Service Area -- a nationwide scheme to unearth the region's elite young players and coaches.

He is also involved in the Get Active programme with local councils around the county while the 42-year-old is a North West Counties referee and a qualified Premier League touch judge.

So it is no wonder he hung up his playing boots last year!

"I'm very busy but that is the way I like it," said Clements, born in the rugby league heartland of Warrington. "I've been involved in the sport for more than 30 years and I am now very active in promoting it and trying to attract more youngsters to the game."

Clements' playing career took him across the region he is now casting his net over.

From Blackpool Borough to Longworthy in Salford to East Lancashire Rugby League Club and more recently Accrington -- Clements has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the amateur game.

"The highlight has to be being involved with the Blackpool team that played the touring Australians in 1978. I was still quite young and didn't actually play but to be involved with the squad was a magic moment."

Now settled in Darwen, and keeping himself fit as a member of Darwen Dashers, Clements has set his sights on promoting the game in East Lancashire -- but warned that local clubs need to help themselves in an area not noted for its rugby league.

"It's not a big rugby league area and teams are always struggling to attract players.

"So it annoys me a little bit when they don't go out there and do something about it.

"Especially when there are rugby league players looking for clubs to join. Sometimes they can be too parochial."

But those are barriers he is looking to knock down.

Having seen the Great Harwood-based East Lancs RL side and schools rugby league in Darwen rise and fall, Clements knows first hand how hard it is establish the sport in the area.

"That is why the Active Sports programme is very important. I am working with 14 borough councils across the region to promote the game.

"The Lancashire Service Area scheme takes it a step higher where we are trying to establish a pool of elite young players and coaches."

And putting his Referee's Society hat on, he says rugby league faces the same problems as cricket and football in attracting match day officials.

"I would love to see more young referees in the sport and as recruitment officer that is one of my main objectives."

But at the end of the day, whatever hat Clements puts on, he is a rugby league fan at heart.

"For me, rugby league is the best team sport of them all for skill, commitment and team-work."

And, as they say, if the cap fits...