Gate Post Harrogate Rugby Union Football Club Founded 1871 Gate Post No. 119 February 2021 This newsletter is sent to all the supporters, current and past members of Harrogate Rugby Club for whom we have an email address. Your contributions would be most welcome along with your feedback. Burns Night January 25th is the birthday of Robert Burns and the Harrogate Touchline Internationals, always looking for an excuse for a celebration, would traditionally join together for a night out and a wee dram. Roy Guy recalls one Burns Night in particular. ‘Thinking of this took me back to a TI Burns Night Supper held at Claro Road in the small room later used as an office. My outstanding recollections are that the room was overcrowded, and I spent the evening being jammed against the wall by a very large Leo Niemic. When it was time to toast the haggis someone produced what was said to be a Burns first edition poetry book and the owner, together with our greatly lamented Glyn Smith, whilst attempting to find the correct passage, recklessly handled and thumbed through it as though it was a cheap magazine. Alcohol may have played a part in their behaviour.’ The photograph shows some of the TIs in the Claro Road office ready to celebrate. Left to right: Gordon Ogilvie, Brian Hemming, Glyn Smith, Malcolm Spark, David Bowen. Who’s Who Fotherby, David. Junior Chairman and Ground Secretary 2005 to 2007. Fowler, George. George appears on the Colts team photograph in 1948 and on the 1st XV photograph 1952/1953. He regularly attended the Former Players Lunches and was their Treasurer from 1997 to 1999. George died at home on 3rd October 2020 aged 88. His funeral took place at Stonewall Cemetery, Harrogate on Tuesday 3rd November 2020. (See Gate Post No.117 December 2020) Fox, Marcus. Wing. He played for HRUFC 1st XV from 1987 to 1991. Selected as a replacement for Yorkshire U21s in the 1987/1988 season. He later became a coach for the juniors. Fox, Samson (11/7/1838 - 24/10/1903) President of Harrogate FC 1902/1903. He entertained the visiting Canadian touring team of 1903. Fox bought and extended Grove House on Skipton Road, Harrogate and became a benefactor to the local community. He provided Harrogate with its first steam Fire Engine, built the Grove Road School opposite his home and provided affordable social housing. He also built a "water-gas" plant to provide the main street of Harrogate with some of the earliest street lighting. In 1870 he provided most of the funds (£45,000 in two donations) to build the Royal College of Music in London and his statue is in the entrance hall. Eventually he became Mayor 1 of Harrogate for three successive years, 1890 –1892, a record never equalled since. He was a Justice of the Peace for both Leeds and Harrogate. The actor Edward Fox OBE is his grandson. Frank, Gordon, B. No.8. First played for Harrogate during the Second World War whilst still a pupil at Sedbergh School. He played for Yorkshire and the Army from 1944 to 1946. He was a member of the Harrogate team which won the Yorkshire Cup, 23rd April 1949. He was Club Captain from 1950 to 1952 and made his last appearance in 1953 following an injury. He served on the committee for many years and was club President from 1972 to 1974. His initials G.B.F. appear on the clubhouse fund raising bricks. This photograph was taken 15/11/1980. Frankland, J.R. Secretary of HFC 1900 - 1902. Frankland, Ralph, J. Back row. Ralph first appears on a team photograph for the 1969/1970 season and when he finished playing he became 1st XV Coach from 1976 to 1978. On Tuesday 21st January 1975 the club President, Ken Butler-Smith, presented 1st XV ties to 21 current players who had made 25 first team appearances in a single season or 35 overall. The recipients were: Frank Booth, Frank Carter, Peter Clegg, Alan Everson, Brian Forshaw and Ralph Frankland. Harrogate 1st XV 1972/1973 (below) Back row left to right: Sid Bradley (Club Historian), Simon Frank, Gordon Frank (President), Nick Brookes, John Jacobs, Alan Everson, Frank Booth, Tony Hill, David Raw, Gordon Meadows, Mark Lindley, Ralph Frankland, John Plowright. Bert Bradley (Groundsman). Front row left to right, David Upson, Mike Newport, Brian Forshaw (Captain), Glyn M.T. Williams, John M. Ashman. Freeman, William (Bill). (DOB: 18/10/1969) Yorkshire Schools 16 Group and North of England 1986. Played for Harrogate 1st XV 1990 - 1992 and the Georgians from 1987 to 1996. Gair, Andy. Played for Harrogate U14 to U16 1982 to 1984, Harrogate Colts 1984 to 1986 and U21 1987 to 1989. Played for the 1st XV at the age of 17 in 1984/1985 and again in 1988/1989. Played for Roundhay 1987/1988 and Yorkshire U21 1988/1989. He was also a coach for the Harrogate junior section. Gair, W. Ian B. Junior secretary 1982 to 1986, U15 coach/manager 1982/83, U16 coach/manager 1983/84, assistant coach for the Colts from 1984 to 1986 and 1989 to 1997. He was one of the organisers for the first junior festival in 1984. He was the second team Manager 1988/1989, Membership Secretary 1997/1998 and Secretary of HRUFC from 2000 to 2006. He also took on responsibility for the ground in 2001. 2 Gargan, Martin. Playing in the 2nd row, Martin made his debut for Harrogate 1st XV in the 12 - 17 defeat by Morley 18/4/1981 and played in the Yorkshire Cup winning team 28/4/1981. He went on to play for Harrogate until the 1982/1983 season. He gained a blue at Oxford University. On 31/12/1983 he played for the Barbarians against Leicester. Gascoyne, Keith. Wing. Made his debut for the 1st XV, whilst still a Colt, in 1960, in the game against St. Helens on 17th September playing in the centre. He went on to play regularly for the 1st XV until 1970 and occasional games until 1973. He became captain of the Georgians for the 1970/1971 season and later became one of the club coaches. For the 1974/1975 season he coached the Colts. For the 1983/1984 he was the club’s Vice Chairman. Gascoyne, John. Back. John was Captain of the Colts team 1958/1959. Played for Harrogate Georgians and the 1st XV from 1959 to 1965. Committee member 1959/1960. Georgians Captain 1961/1962. Gentry, Louise. Louise became one of the club’s physiotherapists in the 1990s. Gibbs, Gareth. 2nd row. Played for and captained the Strays when they were first formed in 1990. Chairman of the Commercial Committee 1991/1992. He is frequently the ‘Officer of the Day’ on match days. Ten Years Ago 2010/2011 Club Officials: President: Mike Cowling, Hon. Vice President: Jon Callard, Chairman: Paul Barnard, Secretary: Bill Barrack, Treasurer: David Wheat, Chair of Rugby: Graham Siswick, Chair of Junior Rugby: Des Cullen, Commercial Chair: David Belward, Fixture Secretary: Bill Barrack, Membership Secretary: Clive Wright, Ground Secretary: Frank Carter, Bar and Clubhouse Secretary: Donna Stevenson, Club Doctor: Dr. Jim Woods, Head Coach: Mike Aspinall, Forwards Coach: Ryan Peacey, First XV Captain: Ed Smithies, Georgians Captain: Nick Beaumont, Head of Academy: Peter Lancaster, Club Historian and programmes: Brian Forshaw, Yorkshire RFU representative: Trevor Kent-Jones, Security Officer and Jerseys: Stuart Young, Administrator: Sandra Tinker, Webmaster: Peter Kitching, Fourth Official: Bill Lowe. Harrogate Pythons Officials: Chairman: Jon Godfrey, Secretary: Neil Summersall, Treasurer: Jim Saynor, Commercial: Simon Rodham, Pythons Manager: Jon Ford, Pirates Manager: John Monaghan, Panthers Manager: Mark Dawson. Change of 1st XV Players for 2010/2011 Players leaving: New players arriving: Ben Sowrey -prop - Wharfedale. Steven Maycock - hooker - Rotherham Titans Danny McGee - centre - Keighley Ben Innes - prop - York Richard Boyle - lock - Tynedale Alex Rieder-flanker-Leeds Carnegie Academy Jonathan McMillan - prop - Rotherham Titans James Rothwell - wing - Sheffield Tigers Maxwell Lewis - No. 8 - Hull Ali Chalmers - wing - Bradford and Bingley Harry Hannan - hooker - Otley Mark Tampin - prop - Richmond Jeff Watt - flanker - Darlington Rob Almond - wing - Bradford and Bingley Harry Key - fly half - Market Harborough Peter Lucock - centre - Moortown Gareth Lodge-lock - Darlington Mowden Park Ben Weaving - hooker - Otley 1st XV Playing Record 2010/2011: won 15, drawn 1, lost 14, points for 889, against 721. Finished 6th in National League 2 North. Leading try scorer Jamie Broadley with 28 tries. Leading points scorer: Jamie Broadley with 145 points 3 Player appearances 2010/2011 Ed. Smithies 25 Noel Minikin 3 James Rothwell 11 Nick Beaumont 7 Jamie Broadley 25 Mark Tampin 13 Kyle Dench 23 Tom Bugge 17 Rob Almond 14 Jeff Watt 7 Mike Aspinall 18 Rob Johnson 6 Phil Wickham 12 Gareth Lodge 15 James Browne 24 Audsley-Beck 1 Ben Weaving 5 Wood 3 Andy Fraser 17 Rory Carmichael l9 James Spencer 6 Ryan Peacey 10 Jacob Brady 30 (Played in every game) Andy Rock 1 Alex Rieder 19 Sam Bottomley 21 Tim Heaton 20 Richard Davies 4 Chris Wilson 12 Tom Harvey 2 Peter Lucock 4 Aarin Yorke 2 Ali Chalmers 4 Toby Quarendon 11 Andrew Enston 4 Arnie Ellison 3 Ben Innes 5 Going 1 Ben Reaveley 1 Luke Edwards 3 Steve Maycock 23 Matt Roberts 1 Chris Harris 1 E Millar 1 Dan Harland 16 Mike Bradshaw 2 Golf Day 2010 88 golfers in teams of four competed for the ‘Slade Trophy’ in a Stableford Competition at Oakdale Golf Club on 1st September 2010. Doug Kendall (Centre), the organiser of the Golf Day has guest speaker Martin Fish sitting on his left.