PAVIORS INTOUCH NEWSLETTER - MAY 2020

PAVIORS IN TOUCH MAY 2020 We are grateful this month to several contributors. To George Billam and Rob Severn who offer reviews of the season pre-Covid and to several past players who reflect on different aspects of their rugby careers!!! CURRENT UPDATE Now well into lockdown not surprisingly little has been going on at the Club. Trying to look beyond these unbelievable times not knowing when rugby might return leaves us with little to work on at present. The Board will meet immediately after the next government announcement on lockdown, due within a couple of weeks, and look at how that information might affect us. We are also looking at different possible scenarios of coming out of lockdown and the repercussions and will liaise with the RFU in this. A few things have happened, we have now received financial support via Gedling BC under the government SGBF Scheme, further applications are in with the NLD but we have deferred our application to Sport England for the present. We are taking ‘holidays’ on any leasing agreements. You may have seen on the web site we donated some perishable stock to the St Georges Centre in Netherfield, this was organised by President elect Neil Kendrick. One thing that hasn’t changed is that 2022 is still our ‘Centenary Year’ and the planning goes on. During that time there was a 6 year break from rugby due to World War 2 and perhaps todays problems, though of a completely different nature, give us more of feel for what our families endured and the sacrifices they made. For the Legacy Project we have completed a topographical survey which is now with our architect as they prepare our planning application. Whether we can get everything in place to meet the 2022 date depends largely on how we emerge from lockdown, but we will leave no stone unturned in trying to do so. We are committed to inviting all the front line brave Paviors workers and their friends from across the board up to the Club for a good party when we can. It’s the least we can do as they expose themselves to risk on all of our behalves, Thank you. Uncertainty abounds but the most important thing now is we all observe the measures in place and keep ourselves and others safe. Graham Turner Club Chair THE MOST UNPRECEDENTED 1ST XV SEASON AT PAVIORS? The preceding 2018/19 season ended in a monumental way for both Paviors RFC 1st XV and indeed the club. A promotion that seemed the perfect fit in the chronicle of so many playing and coaching careers. The destination was a league, and a level, that had not been reached for a long time in the club’s league contending history. There was hopefulness and pride in tackling the challenge of the 2019/20 season, a sense that the club had been taken to these new heights by an internal determination and loyalty, a very much home-grown attitude. Pre-season saw the usual make up of participants and players alike, the Eggleshaw coaching staff continued a successful training regime with the unchanged ethos of inclusivity. Players aged 16 and on

the verge of becoming senior rugby age, begun training alongside the current senior players. Rugby (it may sound unusual) is now always at the forefront of pre-season training, which adds a welcoming dynamic. Memories of pre-season conditioning without seeing a ball for weeks seemed long lost. We were building very nicely towards a new start, for a team that had been growing together for a unique amount of time, including players that had been part of the same team since their inauguration into Rugby Union, some as young as 6 years old. The early stages of the season saw a buoyant group of friends record victories against both Burton and Doncaster. Collectively it felt that we were still the same powerhouse side that had cemented itself at the top of the NLD. Our main mutual vigour was surprisingly our attitude in defence. I remember us getting together early in pre-season and adding this to the list of where we had to improve. A certain ferocity in defence was present in the first two games of our campaign, and heads were starting to turn around the league. It becomes increasingly apparent that you can ‘mix it’ at a certain level, if you can prevent the opponent in executing their ‘different’ game plan, whatever its supposed aptitude. We achieved this using a mixture of organised physicality and aggression, coupled with our new wide-eyed desire. It gave us the confidence that no matter the rumours of our new opposite numbers, if the door was slammed shut, it did not matter. Our attacking prowess would combine perfectly with this attitude, and we were ruthless. Many of our new and unknowing foes would comment post game that, ‘you boys will be fine up here.’ This added to the optimism of the group and really did put us on the map as a club and on the path to staying up. The season was challenging when we look at some of the opposition that we came up against. As many well know, there is what can be imagined as a class divide in this league, which opposed the previous seasons. Midlands 1 East, felt like a league that favoured the up and coming, aspiring player, whilst harbouring the downward stepping higher rankers, that had previously ‘made it.’ Whatever that term would seem to define. Midlands Premier is a league where players at any situation in their careers can settle nicely into a level that is still challenging, enjoyable and sometimes lucrative. Clear cut examples, coupled with rumours of player payments, would circle around teams that we had come up short against. Players, coaches and spectators alike, would seem to have a note to make, possibly a handicapped view of the Saturday afternoons result. Having been on both sides of the coin in this situation, whilst at other clubs, there are some things that need to be remembered. Most people play rugby for the enjoyment of the game. From what I can see, most players in our league are playing at the right level, this includes the players at Paviors. Most clubs at this level have 1st XV playing squads that are fuelled by money. It is something that we have come to accept and chosen to do differently at Pavs. My view is that Paviors are fuelled by money to a certain extent, as all businesses are. Our recent funding abilities have been backed up by generosity from several new sponsors. The difference is the direction of investment back into the club. The real injection is in the grass roots rugby of this club. The only way to see this is attending the Ron Rosin ground on a Sunday, it is packed. I like to think that we are providing fertile ground for many new tomato seeds to be planted. Where others are paying for taste the difference, vine ripened tomatoes, that inevitably, never taste as good, or reseed as well as the ones from your own patch. In my experience there is no substitute for the incredible camaraderie and friendship that is created at an amateur club. There are only two reasons we play on a Saturday, those are for our own enjoyment, and the glory of our club. Long may this continue. The season consisted of narrow losses, great scalping wins, and some disappointing performances. The squad stayed fairly healthy through to Christmas, although there were moments where we would be short of a full-strength side. One certain difference and advantage that teams had over us was their strength in depth, I think this is a massive learn for the club moving forward. Coaches and players alike are focusing on those that are the next in line players. We continue to have a duty of care as current 1st XV players to discover, unite with, and develop our future counterparts, so we can continue this evolution of home- grown talent. As we know COVID19 brought a premature and abrupt end to our first season at Midlands Premier level. My feeling is we finished where we would have aspired to be at the close of 2018/19. We stayed up. Moving into next season we will no longer have any ‘free hits’ at teams. We are now aware of what all have to offer. Including the likes of Syston, Oundle and Dudley that have been promoted, along with

Scunthorpe descending from above. There were four losses this year with an average points difference of 2.75pts between the two sides. (Kettering [A], Newport [H], Nuneaton [A], Doncaster[A]) What we now know, is that being on the wrong end of these particular results, affected our final league position by 4 places, which would have moved us to the top half of the league. This seems to automatically give us a target for next season. Being part of Paviors again for the last 3 seasons, has given me a renewed desire to give back to the club, that has provided me so much. A desire that I can say without a doubt, was lost during my time overseas. There is an infection at Paviors that encourages people to look out for each other, inspire each other and give back to the club. I do hope there is never a vaccine found for this. George Billam 2nd XV REPORT After the last update, we had a top of the table clash with Notts Medics at Burntstump. Due to the vast majority of fixtures being cancelled due to weather and flooding we had not played for a good while, the game was double header and double points were on offer. A strong second team was fielded with Medics also fielding their first team, both teams were strong, and a great game ensued. Unfortunately, we lost that one 19 10, and dropped to second in the league from the lofty position of top! We have since played Matlock away never an easy journey, but again with a strong second team and a few first teamers to bolster we got that game under way and won that one 24 10, a great result away against an ever strong Matlock front row and forward pack. That game was played in the usual Somme battlefield mud, which really suited the home team’s strong forward pack, but again our backs excelled and a two ‘length of the pitch’ tries from Colt Tom Davies and Matt Wells, meant we broke clear and stayed clear. Great tries from Cole Chelton and Colt Josh Wyatt from short distances showed our forwards were matching Matlock all the way. Unfortunately, Covid 19 has brought an end to the season but hopefully players can keep the fitness going in some respects and we look forward to re-commencing whenever that will be. Hoping all club members and their families stay safe and well. Rob Severn - Second Team Manager John Pallant is along with John Elliott, one of Paviors most celebrated players, this month he reflects on how his career started………………………… HOW IT ALL BEGAN ……… - JOHN PALLANT I had played in all the School XV, apart from the Under 12’s, during which I ‘bunked off’ wishing to be a soccer goalie for either County or Forest, having represented the City as a goalkeeper at Under 11’s. In 1957, a new member of the PE staff arrived at High Pavement - a certain Keith Bonser (later to be an R.F.U. staff coach). For some reason he decided to acquaint himself with recent School Team members and school sports records. Through his due diligence, he spotted an anomaly….. there was someone in school who at the previous Sports Day had won both the one hundred and two hundred yards, come second in the hurdles, won the House Sprint Relay plus the shot and discus, but only represented the school in the cricket XI!

This led to an interview, thankfully of a relatively friendly nature, as to what I had been doing over the previous Autumn and Spring terms. I came clean and thankfully no punishment was forthcoming except being asked to turn out at an Under 12 rugby practice after school. As I had no real idea about the game, I was stuck out on the wing where Keith manufactured a few opportunities to test me and being a ‘big lad for my age’, I seemed to do well. To cut a long story short, I fell in love with the game and over the next few years moved from wing, to centre to fly- half - a position at which I represented the Three Counties Under 15’s. At that time, the Senior XV under Ray Coulton already possessed a full set of County backs, including Roger Moakes and Peter Roebuck. Ray decided I should be moved ‘up front’ as a second row. It was during my three years in the 1st XV I experienced the joys of touring. Nothing exotic for us, not South Africa or New Zealand like some schools these days - we toured the magnificent North Eastern seaside resort of Saltburn by the Sea. We toured there twice in 1960 and 1962, both trips were great fun. We played Scarborough Grammar School, Redcar and Stockton Grammar School, where the Master i/c P.E. was an Old Pavior - Pete Hudson, brother of Dave. On the 1960 tour I dislocated my left elbow. The only really memorable part of the second tour was the presence of one Harold Frederick Shipman… later to become a person of some notoriety??? Known as Fred to us, he was something of a loner, and like all junior members of the touring party came in for some specialist treatment involving shoe polish! All in good fun of course! In fairness, he took it quite well, going on to score a couple of memorable tries on tour. I had an extra year in the Sixth Form, winning a Schools Cap against Wales in Cardiff and playing against a long standing friend and team mate from College, Gerald Davies, now President of the WRU. I moved to Loughborough in 1963, which is another story altogether. HOPEFULLY, JOHN ELLIOT WILL CONTINUE THE STORY OF HIS ILLUSTRIOUS RUGBY CAREER IN FUTURE EDITIONS DIFFERENT TIMES - By Jim McDonald As the Club Safeguarding Officer my first priority is the safety and welfare of all the young people in our club. So everyone under the age of 18yrs. Most coaches and volunteers know me as the nagging git who is always harassing people to get their DBS checks done (Nathan). Anyway, I have been playing and coaching at the club for over 40 years since the end of the 70’s and have seen many different changes with the way we treat our junior players. Back in those days as a 15yr old we didn’t have any junior rugby as we do now you just played for the colts on a Sunday and the senior teams on a Saturday. After my debut for the 4th’s against Ashfield Swans we adjourned to the pub across the road and a pint of Mansfield bitter was plonked in front of me, closely followed by a few more – welcome to senior rugby! Of course, RFU guidelines and proper safeguarding practice these days is that u18’s do not drink at all and drinking games are not to be encouraged even with soft drinks so no more standing on chairs downing pints or boat races.

Changing facilities were certainly more interesting as well now, u18’s are not allowed to share changing rooms or shower in the company of senior players. In the old days we didn’t have our current clubhouse and changing rooms. All we had was the old shed in the corner of the ground with the big bath and the inconsistent supply of hot water. As a 15yr old nobody even thought there was anything wrong with us getting into a bath with 30 naked adult men especially when I always seemed to get next to Big Al who took up a lot more room than most but front rows always stick together. Junior players can now not play senior rugby until 17yrs and not on the front row until 18yrs, so as a 15yr old propping against 20 stone hairy blokes twice my age it was a good job I could hold my own. It helped of course having excellent front row technique or as it was known then as the Dark Arts of the front row, which wouldn’t really fit in now with the current RFU core values. These dubious front row skills and techniques were passed on by training and playing with the likes of Mr. Kinlock, Sudbury, Majewski, Norton, Tiernan, Anderson and Chick. The youth of today no longer have to worry about learning the alternative skills needed in the front row as in days of old. As you would now get penalised for most of them and that is probably a good thing, as going back to the start of this waffle, is that for me it is all about the safeguarding, the well-being of our young players and helping them to develop into the senior players of tomorrow BOB RADCLIFFE I don’t recall being involved in many memorable matches for Paviors. I was mainly a 3rd’s player, but soon after ‘breaking ’ into the 2nd’s I broke both bones in my ankle. Diagnosed by friend and teammate Dr Alex McDonald as a sprained ankle. Couldn’t walk and had to crawl off the pitch and halfway back to the dressing room before I was helped. Alex reluctantly applied some tubi-grip after the match finished and said it wasn’t broken. X-ray 2 days later revealed the breakage and plaster was applied. SINCE 1888 – THE BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS With sport in 2020 prematurely ended or in some case not even begun, it is perhaps good to look forward to 2021 and an amazing year of sport that awaits us. Carried over from this year: the Olympics, The Euros, and The Ryder Cup - added to everything else 2021 has to offer. For a sport lover, a veritable feast - for a rugby fan, a veritable feast plus the ultimate - the British and Irish Lions Tour. In 2017 we had the rather strange image of captains Sam Warburton (Lions) and Ritchie McCaw (New Zealand) awkwardly holding aloft the Series Trophy after a dramatic drawn game in the final match of the tour. The British and Irish Lions, the fifth biggest sporting franchise in the world (bettered only by the Olympics, Football World Cup, N.F.L, and English Premiership), pits the ‘cream’ of British and Irish rugby players against the best of the Southern Hemisphere - New Zealand, South Africa and Australia in a four year cycle. In 2021 the Lions will tour South Africa. But where does the story begin? Twickenham? Murrayfield? Cardiff? The public schools? One of London’s Elite Gentleman’s Clubs? For the answer we need to look a little closer to home.

Above is the England cricket team Alfred Shaw and Arthur Shrewsbury were both Nottingham men - Shrewsbury from Lenton but living much of his adult life in the Queen’s Hotel on Arkwright Street near Nottingham Station (the still distinctive building is one of very few buildings that remain of the once vibrant and thriving Arkwright Street). Shaw was born in Burton Joyce but spent his latter years when not playing cricket at the house now appropriately named ‘The Willows’ at the top of Stoke Lane, Gedling. When not playing cricket for Notts and England - Shrewsbury was along with W.G. Grace, England’s greatest batsman. Shaw, a slow bowler and the man who bowled the first ball in test cricket. They were sporting entrepreneurs organising regular cricket tours to the Southern Hemisphere and the U.S.A, they also owned a sports shop on Carrington Street and a factory on Waterway Street. On the 2017 tour the Lions badge which features the crests of the four home countries had ‘Since 1888’ inscribed below. In 1888 a rugby team left these shores to play a mixture of rugby and Australian Rules Football against teams in Australia and New Zealand. The tour was organised and managed by Alfred Shaw and Arthur Shrewsbury. There were 20 players in the touring party, mainly English but including three Scots and one Welshman. The clubs the players represented are clubs that now fall within the Rugby League ‘umbrella’ though it was many years before these clubs broke away to form a professional league and eventually become a different sport from union. Clubs such as: Batley, Swinton, Salford, Rochdale Hornets, Bramley, Halifax and Dewsbury sent players. Sailing from Gravesend aboard the S.S. Kaikoura on March 8th 1888 landing on April 24th, and playing their first game (a victory over Otago) on April 28th. In total they played 53 matches over a 6 month period including 19 games of Aussie Rules football, winning 27 matches and though playing no test matches played all the major provincial and academic sides. They also won six of their 19 Aussie Rules games! By contrast in 2017 Warren Gatland’s team played 10 games in New Zealand, there were 41 in the initial squad and a backup team of 25 people. Any players injured particularly early in the tour were replaced, whereas on Shaw and Shrewsbury’s tour the captain RL.Seddon was drowned in a sculling accident in Maitland on the Hunter River and was not replaced. On the 2013 Lions tour Sam Warburton and Manu Tuilagi were pictured laying a wreath at Seddon’s grave. Rather auspiciously, thus began a great rugby and sporting tradition - no first class flights, no kit and formal wear sponsored, no TV rights, no sponsorship deals, payment of a kind though no lauding speeches from ‘Geech’ or Willie John or books and films made about them. No fanatical support on the tour or at home in crowded clubhouses and early morning pub opening! Shaw and Shrewsbury returned to Nottingham where they continued to represent their county and country with some distinction. Shrewsbury spent the last year of his life on Shearing Hill Gedling, dying a tragic death in 1903, Shaw died in 1908.They are buried almost forgotten in Gedling Churchyard, two local men who have left a sporting legacy beyond measure. Neil Kendrick HOPEFULLY OTHER FORMER PLAYERS MIGHT BE INSPIRED TO WRITE THEIR MEMORIES ABOUT THEIR TIME WITH PAVIORS, GAMES THAT ARE PARTICULARLY REMEMBERED, OPPONENTS WHO MIGHT HAVE PROVED DIFFICULT ETC. ANY MEMORIES, PLEASE EMAIL THEM TO ME - [email protected]