Morning All,
I did say to my rugby colleagues yesterday that I felt our result would bring condemnation from a few. The facts are quite different. I was in constant contact with Bees all week about this fixture. We had mutually agreed to play the game regardless of their player availability issues and we would select a side accordingly. We had three First XV debuts, 11 of the 18 have been at Town since they were 5 years old and as Ben rightly points out the average age of the squad was 22! Many players also played out of position or in new positions for the first time. The Bees Lads know exactly how closely we worked together to get them 15 players on the field and the game was played in great spirits. We didn't out muscle Bees, just ran around them. The contact was very even when it occurred.
After the match one of the Bees players was very emotional. I explained that Town had been here, we'd taken 16 men to Wath and got spanked by 60 points, which we did most weeks at the foot of Yorkshire 2. Quite the contrary to what Ribb says, after the Club purchase it was leased back to the members for 1000 years at £1 per year. Town then invested heavily in its junior section and young players of which we see the rewards today. In my chat with the youngster it was mentioned that they might go back to paying a standardised match fee to recruit players. It was my opinion I stressed that the players should collectively resist this and build on the clear guts and determination they have.
Touching on our time in Yorkshire Two and respect. When playing at Ribb as then the Coach of the side I had crossed words with a former Ribb president who, upon me turning my back proceeded to spit a ball of phlegm at the back of my head and neck. It was only due to his age and the apologies of their committee that things didn't escalate.
I think every team in NE1 has, when they win a song they sing. It brings quite the atmosphere afterwards. We desisted this out of respect and all went into Bees Club for food and beers. I think if anything this fixture strengthened relationships between the two Clubs.
