The Gloucester Rugby Miscellany E-Book

Robert Harris

• Herausgeber: The History Press
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2012

Beschreibung

No city in England can match Gloucester's passion for the game of rugby. The streets are festooned in cherry and white on match days and that famous cry of 'Glaw . . . sterrr' can be heard far beyond the club's Kingsholm ground. This book illustrates what makes Gloucester Rugby Club so special. It features revealing and humorous interviews with some of the greats (including, to name but a few, Mike Teague, Andy Deacon and Ian Smith), historical facts, trivia, stats and stories, told by those who pulled on that famous shirt. It recalls the great matches, the cup wins, the highs, and also some of the lows. This is a book that shows what it means to play for Gloucester, a club steeped in tradition, pride and sporting excellence.

Leseprobe

In memory of Cath, still my inspiration.

CONTENTS

Title Page

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Foreword

First Ever Game

Phil Blakeway’s Four Retirements

Two Laps Around the Pitch And a Bath

Can we Have Our Balls Back?

Bizarre Twist of Fate

The Hard Man’s Hard Man

Paul Webb on the Perks of Being an Amateur

United Go on Strike For a Full Team

Smallpox Stops Play

Moggy Idolised Gordon Banks

Did You Know?

Derrick Morgan: In His Own Words

Schoolboy Star

What’s in a Name?

Peter Arnold on Digger Morris

Where Are They Now?

12 Angry Men

Tom Palmer: In His Own Words

No Room at the inn

John Watkins, The Prop Forward

One True Voyce

Big Crowd for Outsiders

Senior Debut … at 11!

My Pal Baylo Made Me Wince

Oh Brother!

A Glance at the Fifties

Jim Jarrett: In His Own Words

Did You Know?

Double Deaths

The Great Peter Ford

Did You Know?

Centenary Clash

Potter: The Number Eight Wizard

Beating Leicester is Sweet

Where Are They Now?

Bumps and the Boxing Booths

Did You Know?

Cup Draw Won’t Be Repeated

Howeller’s toughest Opponent

Swapping Half-Backs

Steve Ojomoh: In His Own Words

Proper Old Boys

Night Shifts on the Beat

The Man Who Never Retired

Peter Kingston: In His Own Words

Did You Know?

Burton’s only England Try

Taylor’s One-Liners

Play-Off System Not Fair

Milk Came First

Saved by the Rfu

Lloyd Gardiner’s Heroes

Mr Gloucester Loves Paris In the Spring

Merit Men

Breeze Moved Like the Wind

The Purchase of Castle Grim

Dick Smith: A Man for All Occasions

Jailed for Nine Months

Did You Know?

Etheridge Switches Allegiance

Where Are They Now?

Did You Know?

Pontypool: Like a Scene Out of Gladiator

And the Band Played on

Record-Breaker Brinn

Percy’s Points

Oh Mickey You’re So Fine

Mike Nicholls Rides a White Horse And the General Does a Del Boy

Master Tactician Ahead of His Time

Take It with a Pinch of Salt

Leading From the Front

Dave Sims – The First Professional

Where Are They Now?

Banished in Brisbane

One-Cap Wonders

Happy at Home

A Drubbing to Savour

…And One to Forget

Finding Courage

An Eye Like a Tropical Frog

How Illuminating

The Thoughts of Mike Hamlin

51 Games Unbeaten

Popular Name

Kevin Dunn: In His Own Words

It’s a Squad Game

True All-Rounders

Owzat for Versatility?

Great Scots

Smith Red-Carded on Debut

This Prop Will Take Your Teeth Out

Tony Windo’s toughest Opponent

Friends, Romans, Countrymen

Adored by Northerners

Where Are You From?

Wonderful Willie

Short Stint

Where Are They Now?

Ten Things You Might Not Know About Peter Butler

Influenced by the Don

Free Drinks for the Pack

Don’t Pump Iron, Drink Stout

Did You Know?

Gloucester Personified in Rolled-Down Socks

Mike Teague: In His Own Words

Captain Mine Captain

Getting One Over Bristol

Did You Know?

Where Are They Now?

The Miracle Match

Did You Know?

Let’s Hear It for the Boys

Irish Didn’t Want Boer

Borrowed Shirts

Saints Sunk at Twickenham

Ten Things You Might Not Know About Phil VIckery

Most Caps for England As a Gloucester Player

John Brain: In His Own Words

Where Are They Now?

Chalk and Cheese

Steve Mills on His Dream Front Row

Did You Know?

Fidlers on the Hoof

Did You Know?

Cinderford Weren’t Always Pals

All in a Day’s Work

Pointless

Where Are They Now?

Captain Mine Captain

Give Us a Clewes

Peter Arnold’s Favourite Gloucester Players

The Thoughts of Allan Townsend

Best Baa Baa

Irish Eyes Not Smiling

Gaddy: England’s Loss Was Gloucester’s Gain

Where Are They Now?

Break in Cornwell

Wooley Wouldn’t Go Away

Viv Wooley: In His Own Words

Signing on

Debut in South Africa

Question & Answer Session With Don Caskie

Three World Cup Winners

Did You Know?

Super Maori

Heineken Cup Adventures

The Computer Kid

They Played for Widden

First in the Front Row

Malcolm Preedy: In His Own Words

Six Tries in a Game

True Pals

Pay to Play

Ooh La La!

Europe: The Second Frontier

Peter Jones: In His Own Words

10 Things You Might Not Know About Olivier Azam

Where Are They Now?

Twickenham Blues

No Saving Corporal Ryan

Sos: Back on the Bench

Thanks Dad

Where Are They Now?

It’s a Mismatch

Players of the Year 2001–11

Top Points-Scorers 2001–11

Top Try-Scorers 2001–11

Cruel injury Blow

Extra-Time Win Over the Irish

Happy Jack

The Young and the Old

Did You Know?

We Lv Winning Trophies

But There’s More Play-Off Heartache

Playing for Paramore

Worcester is the Modern Derby

Split Loyalties

Did You Know?

No Hiding From Opta

Did You Know?

Capacity Rises to Almost 17,000

European Half Century

Speedy Ludo

Taking on the Welsh in a Sing-Song

10 Things You Might Not Know About James Simpson-Daniel

Did You Know?

No Money for Hazell

Through the Alphabet

Did You Know?

Bonny Scots

Rodrigo’s Healing Hands

Where Are They Now?

Kingsholm is a Fortress But Away Wins Are Scarce

Blooded in Bath

A Fitting Final Word…

Copyright

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My sincere thanks are due to the many Gloucester Rugby greats who helped make this book possible. Without exception, their class on the field was matched by their class off it.

FOREWORD

by Mike Teague

There were family connections with Gloucester through my uncle Colin, and I used to go to games with my dad. I suppose my earliest recollection of Kingsholm is of my uncle Colin running out in front of me for a midweek game in miserable weather and slapping this bloke on the back. It wasn’t a thump, it was a proper rugby slap and it made a distinctive noise. It seems like one minute I was playing locally and the next I was running out for the United.

Those who watch Gloucester understand rugby. Honesty on the field is applauded but they can spot someone who shirks or who is not so honest. That’s when you hear the rhetoric of the Shed. Personally, I was always grateful for the support I received.

I think I was lucky to be involved with the club at a wonderful time when there was a wonderful group of players. There is no better club in the world to play for than Gloucester on a good day because rugby is the biggest thing in the city.

FIRST EVER GAME

Gloucester Rugby Club was formed in 1873 following a meeting in the city at the Spread Eagle Hotel. Francis Hartley, who previously played for the London-based club Flamingoes, helped assemble a team to take on the college school who, coincidentally, played on the Kingsholm field that Gloucester now call home.

PHIL BLAKEWAY’S FOUR RETIREMENTS

Front-row forward Phil Blakeway broke his neck playing for Gloucester in a midweek game against South Wales Police at Kingsholm in 1977, but his injury was not fully diagnosed until the following weekend – after he had played for Gloucestershire against Cornwall in Camborne.

The greengrocer from Tewkesbury went on to become a key figure in England’s 1980 Grand Slam-winning team.

Blakeway actually retired four times in his career. He initially retired in 1977 following that broken neck, then in 1981 because of a back problem. Retirement number three came in 1982, but he quit for real in 1985 because of further neck and back problems.

As a youngster he wanted to be a modern pentathlete rather than a rugby player. He was named as a reserve for the World Junior Championships in 1968 and trained with Robbie Phelps, who was established in the British modern pentathlon team. He began taking rugby seriously when he joined Cheltenham as a speedy young full-back.

TWO LAPS AROUND THE PITCH AND A BATH

Now 86, Ken Daniell is one of Gloucester’s oldest surviving players. Ken scored more than 50 tries in a relatively short career which was cut short by a serious knee injury at the age of 24.

Also a talented sprinter, he made his Gloucester debut in 1945 as the club struggled to rebuild after the Second World War.

‘It was tough getting going,’ he recalled. ’Harold Boughton ran the side when I first went down to Kingsholm, but we were a social side. We met twice a week for training, which was generally two laps of the pitch, then a bath. We were a tight group. The game was so different; the forwards would put the ball on the floor and dribble it down the field while we stood and watched.’

Ken’s father played for Gloucester in the 1920s. Daniell Junior took up rugby playing for his works team, Atlas, but quickly made an impression at Gloucester, serving as vice-captain in 1949/50 to Gordon Hudson.

He said: ‘The best I played with were half-backs Danny Evans and Willie Jones. Willie was marvellous, very clever and a superb kicker. My most memorable game was against Cardiff. It was absolutely packed out and there were people sat inside the railings on the side of the pitch. Going to Cardiff was lethal because we’d get terrible stick off their supporters. Some players would back out but one who never did was Digger Morris. He got more stick than anyone but he seemed to love it and I don’t think he ever missed a game in Cardiff.’

CAN WE HAVE OUR BALLS BACK?

In 1954 Garth and Godfrey Cromwell became the club’s first ball boys. They got 2s per game, providing they retrieved all of the balls. That meant knocking on plenty of doors in the streets surrounding Kingsholm. Garth went on to become a top referee and even took charge of matches at Gloucester.

BIZARRE TWIST OF FATE

Gordon Sargent’s decision not to go on tour with Lydney resulted in him becoming captain of Gloucester. Sarge played more than 200 games for Gloucester in his career but in 1982, at the age of 32, he opted to return to his hometown club Lydney. At the end of that 1982 season, Lydney went on tour to America but Sarge didn’t want to go. Peter Jones, the young Gloucester prop went instead of him, with Sarge agreeing to provide front-row cover for Gloucester in their final two games of the season. He ended up playing in both matches and the players lobbied him to captain them the following season.

He stayed with Gloucester until his retirement at the age of 38. Sargent made his only appearance for England as a replacement in a rare win in Ireland. Ironically, the man he came on for that day was his Gloucester team-mate Phil Blakeway. As well as all those appearances for Gloucester, Sargent also played 358 times for Lydney.

THE HARD MAN’S HARD MAN

Many who played alongside him rate Jack Fowke as one of the hardest men ever to pull on a cherry and white shirt. But who does Jack rate as the toughest opponent he ever faced?

‘That would be John O’Shea, the former Cardiff and Newbridge prop,’ said Jack.

Jack started life as a hooker with Stroud but played primarily at loosehead prop for Gloucester from 1959 to 1970. His brother Roy (whose son Bobby also represented Gloucester) and brother-in-law Ron Pitt played for Gloucester during the same era.

Though rock-hard on the pitch, Jack showed his soft side by giving plenty of encouragement to young up-and-coming props such as Mike Burton, Keith Richardson and Robin Cowling. Jack said: ‘Keith was a back-row when he joined us but he was keen to learn. I remember Mickey Burton when he started out at about 18. He was a very good scrummager and had a bit of flair. I was happy to help anyone who wanted to learn with a few tips.’

Incredibly, Jack says he never received any formal coaching.

‘I just learnt as I went on; I soon worked out where to put my arms and what to do. Don Rutherford made you think about the game but I’m not sure he understood much about scrummaging. Scrummaging used to be a bigger part of the game. Personally, I think the old game was better, to me the modern game is more like rugby league. Some of the arts of forward play have died out. I enjoyed my time at Gloucester. When I first went down there we got a bottle of beer and two beer vouchers for the White Hart – three if you were lucky. Our kit was supplied but we had to pay for our own boots.’

PAUL WEBB ON THE PERKS OF BEING AN AMATEUR

‘The difference between playing for the firsts and seconds in my day was that in the firsts you got a 22-gallon barrel of beer after the match and chicken and chips. In the seconds it was an 11-gallon barrel of beer with sausage and chips.’

Paul Webb played for Gloucester from 1982 to 1985 and also represented England Colts. He says his most memorable game was versus Auckland at Kingsholm.

‘It was so foggy we should never have played,’ he said. ‘We ran out to applause then there was silence because no one could see us. During the game we got a cheer on the stand side and another on the shed side. Otherwise, the whole match was played in virtual silence.’

UNITED GO ON STRIKE FOR A FULL TEAM

Harold Symonds joined Gloucester from All Blues in 1959 and played for the club until 1972. He captained the United team in 1972, a successful season in which many emerging stars were blooded. One of the young men Harold remembers most fondly from that era is Phil Blakeway, who he rates as the toughest man he saw on a rugby field.

He said: ‘Off the pitch Phil was, and still is, an absolute gent, one of the nicest men you will ever meet. But on a rugby pitch he was different. I can’t remember how many times I was pulled aside as captain by the referee and told “please control Blakeway.”’

Harold joined Gloucester as a tall 6ft 2in centre – a rarity in the 1950s. Within a few weeks he realised he wasn’t going to make it as a centre and was all set to return to All Blues, until Roy Sutton encouraged him to stay as a wing forward.

Harold said: ‘The club was very different in the 1950s and ’60s. The committee was friendly and very hands-on. I wouldn’t say training was ad hoc but it was not structured or disciplined. Dare I say it, players in the 1950s played mainly to keep fit. Don Rutherford helped to change things and got us playing seriously. We were often accused of playing 10-man rugby – people said our three-quarters only went along for the ride. Obviously you play to your strengths, but we had some quick guys too. Terry Hopson could slice through any gap when he was on his mettle, but he could be a moody player. Mickey Booth and Terry were outstanding half-backs. We could be on our 25 and Terry would send a superb kick down the field, which would drop just short of their line. I’d run down the pitch past the opposition’s forwards and hear them cursing “Flaming Hopson’s done it again!”’

Harold is often accused of being the man who took Gloucester out on strike in the early 1960s. He explained: ‘The United side back then often found themselves going away – especially over the Severn Bridge into Wales – with 13 or 14 players and it was embarrassing to be getting off the coach at places like Cardiff and Newport and having to ask the locals if they fancied a game. One day we were going into Wales and we had 13 men. I thought this is stupid so I said “I’m going over to the White Hart, if you get 15 come and get me.” However, all of the players treated me like a trade union leader and followed me. It hit the press that Gloucester had gone on strike and I got a severe reprimand from the committee, although I think one or two like Digger Morris were secretly behind me. It had a positive effect in that a secretary was appointed to the United team and we didn’t go short after that.’

SMALLPOX STOPS PLAY

In 1895/96 several matches were cancelled due to a smallpox epidemic in the city.

MOGGY IDOLISED GORDON BANKS

It’s hard to believe but Richard Mogg, one of Gloucester’s all-time best backs, didn’t take up rugby at any level until he was 16. Within two years he was playing for Gloucester’s firsts. He explained: ‘I played football at school and for Parry Hall. I supported Stoke City, still do, and although I wasn’t a goalkeeper, Gordon Banks was my hero. I didn’t like rugby at school. I was too small. I didn’t even play for the school team.’

Mogg drifted into rugby when a few of the lads he hung around with started playing for Tredworth. The club launched a colts team just for them, but they hardly won a game and most of the players packed up within a year or two as the team folded. Mogg stood out, however, and began playing for Tredworth’s senior team. By 1974 he was playing for Gloucester. He recalled those early days at Kingsholm by saying: ‘I made my debut versus Cheltenham and remember looking around the changing room at all these great internationals like Peter Butler and John Watkins. The week before, I had been playing on the Lannet [Tredworth’s ground]. Peter Butler was very good to me, he looked after me, but everyone seemed a lot older than I was. I pulled on my cherry and white shirt, this long-haired kid, and it was way too big for me. I don’t know what I weighed then, but I was never more than 13½ stones at any time in my career. Playing for Gloucester was a dream come true but I never ever thought I’d play 510 times.’

Mogg soon realised he had to toughen up to survive at Kingsholm. That applied to everyone. He said: ‘When Richard Pascall first joined us we called him a few names. Someone would be lying offside and he’d be shouting “ref, he’s offside!” Everyone else knew that if you were on the floor on the wrong side you’d get some aluminium.’

Mogg started out on the wing, but played primarily in the centre. He scored the winning try in the 1978 John Player Cup final, but says beating Gosforth that year in the same competition was an even better result.

‘The crowd for that game was enormous. We were trying to shout moves and couldn’t hear ourselves. There’s a lot of pressure playing in front of a big Kingsholm crowd like that.’

Mogg once scored six tries in a match versus Guy’s Hospital, but it doesn’t rate highly among his personal list of achievements. He said: ‘To be honest, they were that poor I think a local side would have beaten them. Sometimes we used to play against sides knowing beforehand we would win. Some of our opponents just liked the prestige of playing Gloucester. Derbies against local sides were often tougher. We lost to Stroud and had some tough Thursday nights down at Lydney. They were lovely people down there but they did like to get stuck in.’

Mogg believes there were more flair players about in his era than today. He added: ‘I admired people like Gerald Davies and David Duckham; it would be interesting to see how they’d cope today. I rated Bob Clewes, too. He wasn’t known for his pace but he scored a lot of tries because he was so good at reading the game.

‘I think there are flair players still about, just not so many. It’s more about size and power today because there’s less space. I rate Charlie Sharples though.’

When his Gloucester career was over, Mogg played a season for Cheltenham before returning to the place where it all started, Tredworth. He said: ‘Tredworth were always good to me, I wanted to give something back. I played socially. I still enjoyed my rugby but the pace and strength was going. In Gloucester everybody knows everybody and Tredworth RFC has been a big part of my life. I lived just over the road.

‘I’m happy with what I achieved in the game and the honours I got. I had a final trial for England but never got a cap. I probably wasn’t quite good enough.’