Reading so many accounts of history has made me somewhat nostalgic and after reading Trevor’s recent addition I thought I would attempt to put some of my memories down for the record. I’ll try not to bore you so here goes.

I’ll take you back through the mists of time to 1978. I was but a youngster at the tender age of 10 years old, and a student at Ladymount primary school in Pensby, when a teacher said that, as I was particularly rubbish at football and that I was bigger than most of the lads in the class, I should perhaps take advantage of this flyer that had arrived from a school connected to the primary school. That school being St Anselm's College.

The flyer said if you fancy trying rugby then to meet in the car park of the Pensby Hotel at half ten on Sunday morning and await further instructions. My dad was secretary of Wallasey Rugby Club at the time and my grandfather was a senior referee at this stage so as you can imagine it was expected that I follow in the family firm. So, I was one of the founding members of Anselmians junior rugby (first time round).

We arrived at Malone field with a few others, various assortment of football boots , training shoes, shorts and T-shirts. I remember I had a Liverpool football shirt on for that first day. We were met by two great Anselmians, little did I know at the time the influence they were to have. The first was Ian Kelly the second the John (the surgeon) Campbell.
From then I played at the juniors for the rest of the season (I even got a pair of boots and a shirt).

At the end of my first season with the juniors I left playing for a short time as I started at St Anselm's College in September 1979 under the rugby guidance of Joe Green and Marty Regan.

Now, for those who can remember me from school, I wasn’t the cleverest of lads, and frequently propped up the rest of the class, but one thing I did take from my school years was a love for the game of rugby.

So from the age of 10 to the ripe old age I currently occupy my one constant has been Anselmians Rugby. I’ve met some great people but If I could identify the biggest influence in my entire rugby life it would have to be the legend that was Mike Campbell. I first met mike when I started with the colts after I left the school playing circuit, he taught me how to be a player, how to be a ‘rugby man’ and the value of your team mates.

I’ve had the pleasure of playing with all teams throughout the club. Had the pleasure of playing with great people. Also one memory that stays with me has been recollecting all those who have left us.