I was once told by a teacher that I would never amount to anything but I was pleased to bump into him not so long ago and hear him admit he was wrong. It was funny seeing his Nissan Micra next to my top-of-the range Mercedes!
Growing up in a mining village (Maltby), you had to be able to look after yourself, and that’s what I did, on and off the pitch. I was expelled from school at 13 and sold flowers in the local market. Making money was always going to win over education for me back then, and happily I have gone on to have a successful business in the building trade. One of my best customers in the early days was John Bentley, when Newcastle got rid and he came to Rotherham. Mike Yarlett, the club’s money man, paid for him to have an extension to his house, and I built it!
I was one of a few lads from Maltby who went down to Rotherham in our teens and I came up through the colts before making my first team debut against Birkenhead Park in 1990. We were in North 1 back then and to be part of the journey up through the Leagues, right to the very top, was brilliant, and something I don’t think will ever be repeated.
In those days, games were self-policed. If you took a backward step people would take advantage. A big part of our success at Rotherham was that we would always stand our ground. We didn’t have the flashiest of players but our pack was one to be feared and, with having a lot of local lads in the side, we played with a lot of heart. If there was any fisticuffs, we sorted it. The biggest melee I can remember was against Harrogate in the Yorkshire Cup final. It kicked off after about 15-20 minutes and we laid them all out.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 29, 2023 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة October 29, 2023 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
