Some 4 years ago Berry Hill RFC reached the grand old age of 125.The club that molded so many parts of my youth,assisted in me being led me astray perhaps but taught me much about friendship and belonging and which now plays such a key role in the community that I have been so fortunate to represent.
Im led to believe there was a Timotheus Gwilliam involved in the set up of the club all those years ago . I am pleased to say there have been a healthy splattering of Gwilliams over the years and I am laying claim to being relative to any of those that served the club with distinction of any kind.
My own knowledge of the club up the road began with memories of Dad always asking anyone from Mr Powell at the post office, to the enormously tall and wonderfully named Mr Short . "ow did em get on ?" whenever we were out in the village. I also remember a school friends Dad being on the tele or something .Im sure it was "Record Breakers" for scoring the quickest try ever in a game one night while we were at primary school. I remember Julian Horrobin being so proud of Keith's efforts . I listened to my pal telling us how his Dad caught the ball from kick off and charged through to the line.
I didn't find out till later that my own Dad wasn't a bad player himself. A tough scrum half by all accounts with an eye for a darting run and a drop goal, his brother Ted also a decent player. How I envy Julian and my other mates who have those memories of their Dads playing.None the less the Club and its standing in the village was imprinted on all us Berry Hill boys from an early age.
We would start going to watch the games, then once we had grown to the senior heights of Berry Hill secondary or in some cases Grammar schools first and second years it was clear that that this was, thanks to the likes of Cedric Williams , Vince Hoare and the wonderfully committed John Belcher, a very early version of the academy system, constantly feeding keen , talented ( to varying levels) and loyal lads up to the club.
How lucky was I to become involved with the club at the time that I did.? The early 80s, playing Sunday mornings at under 14s or 15s. After each game or training session, hearing tales of the Berry Hill front row, that famous pack.Lester, BK ,Sedge and Eggy. Watching that colossus Jeff Powell kicking goals from what seemed like a mile. Terry Bick , faster than Alan Wells I am sure, leaving defenders running in treacle. This was sporting glamour to me and what was even more incredible was that these Giants would live in the same road as we did or I would see them in the paper shop or pass many of them catching the Ranks bus. For me at 11.00am on a Sunday morning , at home to Carleon, lining up a kick at goal, for a brief moment I was Jeff Powell or Richard Lewis and walking in the footsteps of sporting and Berry Hill Gods.
I was chatting the other day to a Lydney RFC giant from the same era and told him how I had been trying to explain the sheer magnitude of County Cup finals in those days. The entire world would talk about and half the Forest would travel to Kingsholm on dark misty nights. It was huge ! The John Player Cup wins were what perhaps brought fame to the club, but for me as a schoolboy from Berry Hill, Tuesday mornings after the Gods had brought glory to our village, well it was chest out at school and something I shall always remember. I never even went to watch all of them, finances being what they were in our house at the time but how I loved those victories.
As I grew and went from junior to Colt rugby ,who could not be influenced by Speedy Wilkes or Deggy Kear or the wonderful and talented team mates I had at the time?, and as a team we were pretty good too. That was I am sure down more to the likes of Julian Horrobin and Nick Harris and many others whose talents dwarfed my own. My own lack of talent and perhaps a developing teenage ego on my part meant that I didnt go on to wear that shirt with the pride, skill and longevity that many of my old teammates and friends did or perhaps I should have.
Nowadays , I have more to do with the club again but in a very different role. But even now and on an even bigger scale , Sunday mornings bring young kids with their boots, to pull on that shirt. Perhaps they will have new Gods to follow soon or indeed become heroes themselves in years to come.
The clubs role in the community remains and for that it is to be warmly congratulated. It has and will continue to teach , loyalty, team work and an ethos of community that is vital. It certainly played a huge role in my life and I am thankful.
Similarly, cricket at Penallt ( just over the border) and in playing in goal at the stadium of light ( English Bicknor) taught the young future Council Leader and MP.... ( we shall see ) that teamwork , friendship and challenge in many ways prepare us for life. We learn lessons playing sport, we create lasting friendships and above all we are part of a community.
Our sports clubs need help , they need protection and they need competition. The effects in the community are only really known when these clubs are taken away or allowed to dwindle to nothing.
Sport isnt for everyone but community involvement , teamwork and discipline should be.
My youngest is now playing cricket for Ruardean Hill and football for Bicknor. I see him thinking the same way I did, idolising those first team players, dreaming of being among them. He trains regularly and would run through hoops if Adam at cricket or Dave down at Bicknor asked him to. I cannot tell you the joy it gave him to score his first goal for Bicknor or on taking that first league wicket for Ruardean Hill 2nds at St Briavels. Memories that will last with him, and with me actually.
Support your local sports club. They are our modern day youth clubs, our Sunday schools and community centres.
Protect them and the next generations will thank you.
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