About 4 years ago I retired from rugby due to being too old, too fat and too broken. I have retired before, and decided that the best thing to do was to distance myself completely, not even watching, as this had the “I could have another go” effect.
I hadn’t counted on my eldest (Stephen) wanting to play at Argaum, the most social rugby club I encountered over my 15 years of playing.
He started with the under 13’s this season with a handfull of boys and two coaches, Richard Belli and Mark Turner (who I’d played rugby with for the whole of the 15 years, at Jesters, then OPM’s). I think he was recognised by Mark (he was my shadow/mascot for a couple os seasons) and it was muted that I could maybe lend a hand with coaching. At first I was a little reluctant, but arrived on a Thursday night to be faced with a group of soon to be attitude laden teenagers, what had I let myself in for.
As the weeks progressed, I became more involved, imparting my vast knowledge (ok that’s enough laughing from you Belli) mostly gained from watching tv, and the lads seemed to respond, all the while the numbers attending were growing until we hit around 25. It was great to watch these lads running around, learning the game that I love, and the way they interacted with us it felt and still feels like I have 24 new sons, one big family.
I know that I’m getting on a bit (no comments please) but I felt that if I was asking these boys to run around, maybe I should attend senior training, pick up some new ideas and work on my own fitness.
That first night was quite strange, knowing only a couple of the lads in the senior side, and I hadn’t done any sort of real physical work since I had last played. As always, Stephen shadowed me, and endeared himself to the rest of the lads immediately, by being a cheeky sod and commenting on the fact that I was blowing out of my backside after the warm up. After trudging back to the bar for a well deserved pint, the lads all made me feel very welcome (that great Argaum social side shines through every time) and within a minute of me sitting down the RFU registration form had been thrust in front of me by Ed Notley (team captain and chief press ganger). I explaineed that I was only comming for the training and not interested in playing but this fell on deaf ears and they said to sign anyway in case of emergency (what emergency requires the signing of a registration form I still haven’t yet worked out, but sign I did).
Within a couple of weeks I was called into action, a friendly, against Devonport High School Old Boys. As I stepped onto the pitch, a strange feeling came over me. Not since that first game (almost 20 years ago) had I felt nervous about playing, but here I was, on the verge of throwing up, could I still do this? The ref (Rich, who I had known for years) blew the whistle, and we kicked off. The ball recieved and for some daft reason, run straight back towards me (or at least that’s how it felt). That first contact was all I needed, the nerves immediately left me and it was like I’d never been away. It ended in a fair 14-14 draw, but I felt sorry for the dhsob boys when their coach (again an old friend, Mike Freeman) came to let them know that most of the 1st team were unavailable so they’d have to play a second match, against league leaders OPM’s (losing 89-0). That’s it I was back, and loving it. It now felt right to ask the young lads to give all they’ve got now that I was doing the same.
I wanted to give the boys more during coaching and I felt the only way to do this was to get qualified. Three trips to Brixham later, and under the guidance of Mike Freeman and Rob Masters, myself and Richard Goulden became RFU level 1 coaches.
I’ve really enjoyed my first season with Argaum both as coach and player and hopefully it will be a long association. The team are deserved of a greater place within the league structure, and with the team we have in place, this is possible. The success that we have together off the pitch must surely lead to success on the pitch, it’ll be a long uphill struggle but I’m sure we’ll make it.
A bloke called Martin Luther King once said that he had a dream, well if he can have one so can I, and his worked out ok.
So, if you have a drink nearby whilst reading this, raise your glasses for a toast, Argaum, the future, and success.