Bridgnorth at Twickenham: A great day for heroes

Coaches had filled the livestock market in Tasley before the convoy made its way to meet up with thousands of fellow Bridgnorth supporters who had travelled down by car and train.

The home of English rugby may be a long way from the Edgar Davies Ground, the club's home pitch by the River Severn in Low Town.

But the 3,000 fans made sure Twickenham was a home from home by making themselves heard.

And they did the Shropshire market town proud, despite a 31-18 defeat to Maidstone in the final of the RFU Intermediate Cup.

Bridgnorth rugby club's trip to Twickenham was a real family affair for the Georges.

Ian George has been the heart beat of the club's social calendar for the last seven years after taking the over the clubhouse, turning it into a thriving venue.

Ian is also captain of the club's fifth side, known as the Vikings, while his two sons, Tim, 32, and Ben, 26, have also represented the club.

Daughter Mia, 23, was manager of clubhouse before she had her son, Theo, who at the age of three has already been a club mascot.

Ian's youngest, Molly, 20, can often be seen working as a barmaid most weekends while his wife, Rachel, cooked a banquet for 240 members and players last weekend.

"My eldest son played for the minis and juniors, so I used to come down and support him," said Ian.

"Some of the lads he has played with are now in the first team and actually played at Twickenham yesterday. I had followed the team before I moved in to the clubhouse because I am Bridgnorth through and through."

When son Ben went into the army, it was Tim who convinced his dad, who had always played football, to have a game of rugby.

He went on to play for the fourths, and then the fifths, and has toured with the club to Holland, Portugal, Poland, France and this year the club is heading to Slovenia.

"I used to have the Woodbury Down Inn, in Bridgnorth, for six years but I had been out of the pub trade for three years when I was approached by the club," Ian recalled.

"My daughter had just finished school at the time and had previously helped me run the pub because she was really well organised.

"I became the licensee and Mia the manager, until she had Theo and then I took over.

"Peter Parkes came in as chairman and John Follette as treasurer at the same time when the club was in pretty dire straits.

"The turnaround has been amazing over the last five years and we recently had a £20,000 refurbishment.

"We've had new lightings and fixtures added, ready for screening the rugby world cup.

"We've got 350 minis and juniors, five adult teams, a ladies, U18s womens and girls side,

"We're bursting at the seam and the RFU is aware of that, so we're first in line for any grants and help.

"It's been an amazing seven years, my family is completely behind the club and to see the team walk out at Twickenham was unbelievable really."

Defeat may have been hard to swallow deep inside but the pride oozing from the stands – that a team from little ol' Bridgnorth was walking out on the hallowed turf – was enough to raise spirits whenever the game seemed to be drifting away from the side.

Songs were sung on coaches and in the stands for the entire 80 minutes, followed by rapturous applause for their heroes who may have been beaten but still gave a fantastic account of themselves.

The fact a team made up primarily of Bridgnorth men were playing at Twickenham will surely inspire future generations to follow suit and join this thriving club.

It was Bridgnorth s first defeat in more than a year, which underlines how well this first team has played for the past two seasons – and it's quite scary how far the entire club could go.

The run to yesterday's final did not only bring joy to the regular fans but also endeared the whole club to a new army of supporters.

Many of those who made the three-hour trip down to Twickenham – clad in Bridgnorth hats, scarves, T shirts, jumpers and flags – have caught the rugby bug this year, gaining more and more interest in the sport and their home club as the side's march to the final picked up pace.

It can only augur well for the future of this club, which is already bursting at the seams with 350 juniors, five adult sides trotting out ever Saturday, a women's team, under 18s ladies team and girls section.

Interest is only going to increase thanks to the players and staff, who made the trip to the final possible and have welcomed any new faces along the way

Mike Richardson and his wife Ann, who are welfare officers for the Bridgnorth minis and junior section, had made a 400-mile round trip from Swansea for the game as it clashed with their holiday, along with their 14-year-old son, Corey, who plays for Bridgnorth under 14s.

Mike said: "It's been an absolutely fantastic day.

"Just to be here was a fantastic achievement, a win would've only have been a bonus.

"We've driven all the way from Swansea to be here but it was well worth it because they played so well.

"All of them have done the club proud and it's amazing the number of people from Bridgnorth who are here."

Corey said the team's progression would help inspire the next generation of players.

He said: "It's taken a lot of effort just to get to Twickenham and it shows someone from Bridgnorth can play here."

David Hadkiss, 56, and his wife Maggie, 54, were very proud to be cheering on Bridgnorth's number 10, David Hadkiss.

Also making the journey was David's wife, Ceila, 29, who was eight months pregnant, his sister Emma , 29 and brother, Billy, 25.

Mother and father-in-law Ann, 55, and John Bailey, 57, sister-in-law Hannah, 24, and brother and sister-in-law Steve, 38, and Jennifer Matthews, 28, had also made the trip to Twickenham.

Rubbing shoulders with some of rugby's top officials is a long way from where Bob Turner first started in the game.

The 79-year-old forced himself to give up smoking after taking part in Bridgnorth Rugby Club's first ever training session.

After finding himself badly out of breath he vowed to get fitter with the newly formed club and help it to grow.

The first training session was held in January 1962 and the club was formed soon after.

Fast forward 53 years and Mr Turner admits to pinching himself after being invited by the President of the RFU to sit in the Royal Box at Twickenham.

Mr Turner joined club president Alun Stoll and fellow trustee, Richard Bebbington to see Bridgnorth face off against Maidstone in the final of the RFU Intermediate Cup.

He said: "In 1962 we were really struggling to get enough players for one team but now we've got 19 in total, ranging from under fives right the way through the ages, as well as a very successful ladies team.

"It must be something to do with the air in Shropshire because from Newport through to Church Stretton and Cleobury Mortimer, all of them are at the top of their respective leagues. It's quite incredible really.

"Bridgnorth had gone 31 games unbeaten before Sunday's final and the last time we lost it was against Leek in March last year.

"It was the same stage of the cup we beat Scarborough this year.

"I was invited to sit in the Royal Box at Twickenham with the President of the RFU, with my wife Maureen.

"Richard Pennington and Alun Stoll were also invited with their respective wives.

"They do things right in rugby union and we were in our our best clothes. It's absolutely fantastic to be a part of it having been a member from the start."

The club was founded by Ray Colburn and Phil Bladen who were both masters at Bridgnorth Secondary Modern, which later became Oldbury Wells.

Mr Colburn had played for Stourbridge and Mr Bladen for Ross-On-Wye but there was no team in Bridgnorth.

Mr Turner said: "They put an advert in the Journal in 1961 and the first training session was held on January 4, 1962.

"That was the day I stopped smoking because I nearly died during the training session.

"The club has been a part of my life for the last 50 years and what's happening now is absolutely fantastic."

David, from Leicestershire, said: "We are very proud of him."

"He's played rugby since he was 12 and has worked his way through the ranks.

"He's played for Bridgnorth for the last couple of years having played in Leicestershire and for Malvern.

"It's been a great two years for Bridgnorth.

"We're a rugby family with season tickets for Leicester Tigers so we're always watching rugby when we can.

"You never really think you'll see your son running out at Twickenham."

Proud mum Maggie said: "I am incredibly proud of him and this whole Bridgnorth team has been exceptional."

Graham Ferguson, 52, an IT consultant who went to Oldbury Wells School and his wife, Sue, 50, who works at Bridgnorth Medical Practice, who live in Broseley, came down to cheer on Bridgnorth.

Graham said: "We're here for the day but I've been supporting the club for 30 years.

"It's been a really good day and when they walked out even before the game for their team photo the reception was amazing.

"It seems like half of Bridgnorth is here. I thought we had a good chance of winning and the players and fans were definitely up for it."

Debbie Smith, 34, a veterinary nurse, Barry Goodyear, 50, a sales engineer, from The Hobbins, Bridgnorth and Will Goodyear, 11, who attends Williams Brookes School came down by coach.

Barry said: "We've really started to get interested as they've progressed in this competition.

"We wanted to offer a bit of local support and it's also a good family day out.

"I've dragged my son along but I'm sure he'll be a rugby fan by the end of the day."

Retired Tony and Maureen Phillips, from Hermitage Close, Bridgnorth, who are both in their mid seventies could not believe their local side was playing at Twickenham.

Tony said: "I played for Bridgnorth for about 15 years, mainly in the 1970s, before retiring after the 1983-84 season.

"I came out the navy in 1967 and joined the club in 1969.

"It's absolutely fantastic what this side has done. I've been up since 6am.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I think this could happen. We had a decent side in the 1970s and won the Newport Cup on a regular basis.

"To Watch Bridgnorth at Twickenham is out of this world. I'm still a regular spectator and it's been great to see the club grow. I went to the semis against Scarborough too and the way they held out at the end was fantastic.

Maureen said: "I'm a spectator as well and have been since Tony was playing. I used to look after quite a few kids when I watched from the sidelines back then.

"It's been absolutely great to go to Twickenham."

Thirty-two-year-old window cleaner Richard Wall, and his partner, Evie Marsh, 38, an insurance adviser, who live in Bridgnorth, said sometimes they got as nervous as the players watching from the sidelines.

Richard said: "I've played for the club since I was five, playing for the minis right through the ranks until I stopped playing last year. I was getting a bit tired of coming home battered and bruised, plus it takes me longer to recover these days.

"I represented the seconds, thirds and fourths, playing with a lot of the team who are playing today.

"It's unbelievable how well the club has done this year. I went to both semis, against leek last year and Scarborough this year – I was probably just as nervous as they were."

Evie said: "I had never been to a rugby match before I met Richard 12 months ago.

"I'm completely hooked now. I never thought I'd enjoy standing in a freezing cold field on a Saturday morning. I knew nothing about the sport but Bridgnorth is run by a really nice bunch of people.There's a really good social life behind it all."

Annie Pelkola, 49, and Karen Brake, 51,from Quatford near Bridgnorth, who both work for Mortimers Solicitors in Bridgnorth, have also caught the rugby bug this year.

Annie said: "I'm a recently converted fan. I really started showing an interest when they started winning so many games. The way they have been playing has been incredible.They are a really professional team."

Karen said: "We had friends who enjoyed rugby and we'd watch the occasional international but this is the first season we've really followed our local team."