Didsbury Toc H RFC - past players

Didsbury Toc H RFC
« past players »

Welcome Guest. Please Login or Register.
Dec 30, 2009, 8:27pm

Didsbury Toc H RFC :: General :: Past Players :: past players

Poll

Poll Question: When did you last play for Toc H?

Poll Options:

You must be logged in to vote in this poll.

Less than 1 year ago

(6 votes, 37.5%)

Less than 5 years ago

(3 votes, 18.7%)

Less than 10 Years ago

(2 votes, 12.5%)

More than 10 years ago

(1 vote, 6.2%)

More than 20 Years ago

(3 votes, 18.7%)

More than 30 years ago

(1 vote, 6.2%)

Poll Totals:
Total Votes: 16
Total Voters: 15

Author

Topic: past players (Read 762 times)

Admin
Administrator

member is offline

Joined: Sept 2006
Posts: 42
Karma: 0

past players
« Thread Started on Sept 28, 2006, 3:43pm »

This forum has been set up to allow all our ex-players to keep in touch with each other and reminisce about old times.

We'd like to know how many players from each era are out there so we can look at setting up seperate categories.

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

longshaw
Visitor
member is offline

[msn]

Joined: Jun 2007
Gender: Female

Posts: 1
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Karma: 0

Re: past players
« Reply #1 on Jun 11, 2007, 12:43am »

Hi guys
Well it's been many a year since I graced the grounds of the famous TOC H club. At first I used to hate having to get up early on a Saturday morning, get ready and out the door, most mornings were chilly and sometimes wet. Standing outside the changing rooms, waiting for the players to make their run out onto the field. For some it was usually a gradual walk, getting those old bones working again and warmed up for the match. The smell of the Deep Heat and ointments as the players passed was not hard to miss and to this day I love the smell of muscle relaxing ointments, it brings back fantastic memories. Then the game was on, sometimes we won, sometimes we lost, but what I saw most of all was a bunch of men just having a good time, of course their was the usual shouting and banter on the field but between the club players it was just men enjoying what they did. I'd seen my fill of broken bones, broken noses, black eyes, tread marks in the backs from boots during a scrum, bitten off ears (well that was only once from a player from the Vulcans). But is was truelly hard yakker and I would give anything just to be on the side line again watching a game and getting that adrenalin rush when the chase was on and all players game together in a scrum. Then after the game it was to the club house of the grounds we played on for a beer or two (for me it was a coke and packet of crisps) and to listen to the men joking around and talking about the player of the match.
But to me, my dad was always the player of the match. To me, he was the one that was in the middle of all those scrums, egging the other players on, throwing the ball in, pushing the players on until their legs were screaming. I remember the last ever game I watched him play, he went down in a scrum and when all the other players got up, I did not see my dad, but there was someone still lieing there on the ground. My heart stopped, my stomach felt like a pit and my throat was going to burst I was trying to contain myself and not show emotion. The guys gathered round, the medic came for a look over, one of the players came over to me to reassure me that he was okay. Then he rose and I could have flooded the ARK. My dad was fine. Broken collar bone but he was out for the matches that I had come to watch, whilst on holiday in the UK. However, we continued watching the games on the sideline and then it was good having him by my side listening to him call out to the boys and giving them encouragement. That was my dad, on the field and off the field, he was my HERO.
Unfortunately two months after I returned home, I was asked to return to the UK for my dad's funeral, he had been killed on a job site. My world had come crashing down, my HERO was no more.
The day of the funeral came and my heart swelled at how many men came to the funeral, the church was so packed that people had to stand outside as there was not enough seating or standing room inside. The burial was only for family members, I stood beside my fathers grave, trying with all my might to hold back the tears, I had been concentrating so hard at watching my father being lowered into the ground I had not noticed all around.
When I turned around, I was amazed at the wave upon wave of heads of players that had been there with my dad on the field, that came to say their final farewells and the tears that flowed helped me in showing my own emotion, I could finally let myself feel what they were feeling.
I will never forget those days on the sidelines or the day we buried my father, they will stay in my heart until it is my time to pass.
So here's a Hooray to all those that continue to play the 'Gentlemans Game' and a glass held high to those that have passed, fond memories are what we have, most to me are those of my Hero, then now and forever. His devotion to his club house still stands the test of time, with the club emblem embedded on his gravestone.
PHILIP CHARLES LONGSHAW

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

bodget
Regular

member is offline

Joined: Nov 2006
Gender: Male

Posts: 32
Karma: 0

Re: past players
« Reply #2 on Jun 21, 2007, 8:50pm »

well put and sadly missed
bob brooks

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

jamie
Visitor
member is offline

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1
Karma: 0

Re: past players
« Reply #3 on Jul 25, 2007, 5:37pm »

Good day all,

I just have to add to the Longshaw note seeing as I was one of the priviledged two who each week literally had my arms around Phil. No he wasn't my type at all but he was a fantastic hooker, arguably one of the clubs finest being fearless and hard as nails with a good sense of humour too. Now all you oldies think when you get onto the field to watch or play a game and just spare a thought for "PLENTY PLENTY TOC" and how many times you heard that line!!

Jamie Evans

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

mikeharrison
Visitor
member is offline

Joined: Sept 2007
Posts: 1
Karma: 0

Re: past players
« Reply #4 on Sept 13, 2007, 12:04pm »

Jamie Evans...presumably lodging with Lord Lucan and riding out on Shergar in the mornings.Nice to know you're still out there.
I'd forgotten the 'Plenty Plenty' war cry of Phil but I 'll not forget the man himself.
His funeral was one of the worse days of my life but also one of the most memorable.

Recent sightings of Dave Cooper and Phil Newton at club and a youthful Paul Bowen sunning himself on a riverside bench nearby.Also bumped into Pete Tonge but as he left us to join Bedians perhaps i shouldn't mention him!
Those even further past their prime may remember Ivon Hodgson Formerly Burnage RFC Hon. Sec. .Unfortunately Ivon passed away this week.

Nice to see Rob Brooks & Sons continuing the tradition of two generation playing for the club.
This has been achieved by the Coopers the Thompsons the Popoolas and who else........?

« Last Edit: Sept 13, 2007, 12:09pm by mikeharrison »

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

Click Here To Make This Board Ad-Free

This Board Hosted For FREE By ProBoards
Get Your Own Free Message Boards & Free Forums!