This piece was prepared for the programme for the Cheshire Cup game against Stockport 11th December 2001. We take pleasure in publishing it on this web site.

CAN CUP GLORY

LEAD TO LONG TERM

SUCCESS ?

In recent years New Brighton has enjoyed unprecedented success in the Cheshire Cup, but with so many of the team that raised Cheshire's Senior Cup in victory no longer with us, this is an entirely new experience for so many of our current squad.

With so much Cup success in recent years it's easy to become blasé about the competition. For those who consider it a mere formality just cast your mind back to the days, not so long ago, when we battled for many seasons to get passed Winnington Park, then above us in the National League and were blown away by the professional battalions of a Sale second string.

Stockport have hosted us on their turf in recent years, getting ever closer to beating us. From what I remember of last years encounter it was a very close affair indeed! As for this year we are fortunate to have a home tie and will be hoping to take advantage and win tonight in order to go into the next round. In the wings, a greatly improved Birkenhead Park, National League aspirants Chester and many other eligible clubs are spoiling for the have their chance to have a go at the Wirral's National League New Brighton.

Cup success could well be a great stage and launching ground for our 'Young Bunch' this season. Could it be that Messers Birley and O'Conner will develop into the Cropper and Guest of tomorrow? Could it be that Kettle and Sewell grow into the Brookman and Jones of the future? Will James Moore go on to be the Saverimutto or Healy of the next generation?

Just pause for a moment and think through the comparisons. These young lads are all local rugby players bristling with ability and youthful exuberance, but what a talented group they are. I've not yet mentioned Jay Stirrut or Ian Murray. Neither have I mentioned young Culligan and a host of others names currently developing nicely with the PJR Academy. Tim Morton at 21 is the elder statesman of this 'Young Bunch'. They could well manage to lift the Cheshire Senior Cup for the first time in their careers and give all at New Brighton another cup run to enjoy.

Similarly this 'Young Bunch' have the talent to take the Wirral and the New Brighton Club onwards and upwards in the National League just as the Brookman/Connor crop progressed us through the local Northern Division into the National League.

If we pause to think for a moment and shelve our current league disappointments, the battle with Stockport tonight could be an important yardstick in the playing careers of our 'Young Bunch' and the continued development of our ClubIf we pause to think for a moment and shelve our current league disappointments, the battle with Stockport tonight could be an important yardstick in the playing careers of our 'Young Bunch' and the continued development of our Club

Lest the senior players get upset at my praise of youth, all identify your worth as the backbone of the team, long may you continue, but the current 'Young Bunch' could well be the keel we need to lay to launch the team of tomorrow and I unashamedly promote their corner.

To the politically and commercially minded in the club and community I urge you to spot the opportunity we have with these lads and secure the 'Young Bunch' for club and community with contracts that keep them with us playing on the Wirral.

Have the vision, the wit and the foresight to see what treasure we already have in our midst. Build on it with the will and determination that will bring future prestige, kudos and honour to the Wirral. Do not let the disappointment of current league results blind you to the opportunities and treasures we have. Let all enjoy the game tonight and look forward to another successful cup run as a launching pad for future league honours.

BENTLEY

There is a special magic about Cup rugby. A single game to decide who will win and who will lose. One bite of the Cherry, get it right and progress into the hat for the next round, or get it wrong and it's instant death as you're out for another year.

Colin

This piece was published in the programme for the Scunthorpe game 1st December 2001.

NEW BRIGHTON WIRRAL,

A STAGE FOR THE FUTURE ?!

Nuneaton last week shuddered at the ferocity of the tackling coming from Ian Murray, felt a rush of excitement each time James Moore ignited the afterburners to reveal his jet like pace. Enjoyed the huge and developing talent of Anthony Birley and if that was not enough, celebrated the achievement of hooker Lewis Mullen who came on to take a strike against the head playing in a 7 man scrum.

I turn to focus on the other end of the spectrum. The darlings of Reeds Lane for the past decade:-Titans Turley - Hippy 'The PIG' Davies and Marco Dorrington turned in vintage champagne performances to turn a 7 man scrum into a lethal match winning weapon.

To complete the picture at Liberty Park Mr. Steve Dorrington was pacing like a caged tiger up and down the touchline making notes on his clip pad.

Having promised so much, then struggled and stuttered in the opening 12 weeks of the season, I believe we saw the heart coming back into our lads last week and the transition from our great team of the 90s to the future great team for the new Millennium at last entering a successful bridging phase.

Steve Dorrington has certainly added hugely to Savi's coaching team. The players visibly grew in confidence as the game progressed due in no small part to the Dorrington influence both on and off the park

Make no mistake about it, New Brighton, old and young, displayed tenacity, skill, endeavour and a confidence that should be enthusing and exciting Reeds Lane fans regarding the potential these lads are bringing to our club and community.

In my last offering 'That was Then - This is Now I referred to the fact that our team of the 90s had to change. I urged all associated with the club to accept in good faith the reality of transition and to have faith that things would come good. Things are coming good!

Last weeks performance from all 19 players was tremendous. The lads reversed a 24 point losing margin of 8 weeks ago into a 20 point winning margin. Add the ingredient that they were playing a man short for some 37 minutes of the game and you begin to get the flavour of New Brighton's efforts and achievement in the Midlands just 7 days ago.

Mullen, Birley, Moore and Murray are products of Savi's Academy. Make no mistake these lads were terrific, they will soon be tremendous and they could very well go on to be great. The Academy lads have been training for up to 5 times a week with advice on diet, fitness, tactics, strategies and coaching of the highest level during the 18 months the Academy has been operating. I understand that there are another 20 or so developing players coming through the Academy ranks and a new intake of another 20 or so youngsters just starting the Academy experience.

Stop and think this one through for a while. We have a production line developing and honing Wirral's best young talent into elite players. We have a hard core corner stone of vastly experienced established players to provide the platform to launch these young Titans into the National League. We have a club with over a century's tradition and history together with a league position that has taken 10 years to achieve in the modern era.

All that is needed to complete this potent recipe is the continued and developing commercial and political support from the 'Wirral Fathers' together with the visionary and efficient management of the club. We have the ticket to take New Brighton and Wirral Rugby all the way to the First Division. With Paul Brett, Coasty, Tim, Dave, Bodger, Emrys, Jez, Paul, the mercurial Jon Sewell and so many more talented players linked to the Club, the transition is well underway and the good times just around the corner IF the Wirral has the wit and vision to recognise the signs and support the cause!

This piece was published in the programme for the Sandal game 17th November 2001.

My… Doug's Discussion Forum has been `Buzzing' this week. Opinions are flying left, right and centre from people who care and have a genuine interest in New Brighton Football Club. OK, so there are the odd anonymous idiots, but by and large the opinions on our web site have expressed genuine views of genuine people

During the last few years Reeds Lane has seen much rugby success. Members have become accustomed to winning. Promotion from the local league through the Northern Divisions and on to the National League has been a great roller coaster life experience for all concerned.

Throw in record Cheshire Cup success, some 50% of the victorious County Championship squad of two seasons ago coming from Reeds Lane under Kevin Brookman's captaincy and the record 2000 plus crowds for the famous Preston, Kendal and Doncaster games and you begin to get the picture of what a fine historic era we have experienced. We have indeed been well blessed with good fortune.

Perhaps the success that started with Connor, Brookman, Cropper and Co has tended to spoil us all for anything less. Winning is nice. Indeed it is exceedingly nice when you can have the luxury of finishing third in the league and feeling disappointment at not finishing first or second. But that was then and this is now.

The backbone of the `Great team of the 90s' was together for a long time. They knew each other, they trained together, they prepared together and they played together and they enjoyed recreation together as a proud, intimate and fiercely competitive group of men. Their empathy and understanding took many long hours to come together to produce the team that we have all witnessed delivering the goods so very well, week in and week out. BUT… and there is a but, that team could not last forever.

We saw Lol manage change with the demise of Ian (The Boot) Cropper and the emergence of Alex (Record points scoring) Guest. We saw Ian Kennedy develop from a talented colt into the legendary `Wirral Wizard' whose pace; balance and silky skills mesmerized the opposition to thrill the fans as victories followed victories.

We saw the Dorro brothers rack up 700 odd games delivering their unique brand of humour and fellowship in the club, combined with a ruthless physical efficiency on the Park. Add to this rich cocktail Messer's Dooley, Allott, Captain Courageous Brookman, Captain Inspirational Jones, Hippy (The Pig) Simon the Wright, Sean (the Body) Gallagher, Sgt. 58 inch chest Truly and ……..

I leave it to you to fill the names of your favourites in, there are lots of them!

Yes we have just passed through a golden era, but cup games v Stockport, Winnington and Chester, league defeats away at Bedford and together with the home and away reversal against today's visitors Sandal in 1999 were evidence of the cracks beginning to show. So before we all go overboard looking through rose coloured glasses at all our yesterdays, lets be truthful about the state of the Great 90s team. It was ageing, the cracks were showing and an overhaul and re-fit was increasingly being called for.

The dominating revolution so much expected this summer has not yet materialised. Pre season wins over Preston and Orrell served to inflate our expectations but the results since September have left us all somewhat shell shocked. NBFC has become used to winning and we do not like seeing the team positioned in the lower realms of the league.

Today's Hyper Link web site gives evidence to the uncertainty in all our hearts and minds. Members, fans and leaders are nervous BUT… and there is another but, there is no need for this era of success to come to an end! We really need to keep some cool heads at the top as the `Club Fathers' manage and navigate our fortunes onto the next level of our development. It will not be a straight line graph and we must expect some downturns from time to time. Even Liverpool and Man United have their down times.

I looked up the word Competition in the thesaurus and came up with a variety of works including Struggle and Challenge. Perhaps the success of the last decade has blinded us to the nature of challenge and struggle. The future will judge the way today's members conduct themselves in these times of change. What will the program writers be saying about the way YOU responded to the challenge when, in 2010 they look back on this current era?

The success of the past was then.

This is now.

Are you ready for the struggle?

Very soon the talking will be over, the contract negotiations complete and the new strip on show ready for battle to commence. Yes it's that time again, time to renew the membership, check the fixture list and fasten the seat belt for the NEW New Brighton season.

I have seen some Pre-season programs in my time. Some have been good, others very good and some very - very good, but what I have seen this year has been much better than that. Savi, Tony, Mike, Rick, Steve and Stuart take a pat on the back from the Fat Man.

The players that have taken part in your excellent sessions are stronger, faster, fitter and measurably smarter for the experience. Those who have started late and have missed the experience have missed out. They have just a little time to make up the ground and must certainly be putting the work in NOW !

So what has been different this year? Well, with the Lions returning to Blighty the news is filtering through about long, laborious, repetitious and somewhat pointless training sessions knackering the lads on the training pitch leaving them spent for the games. No such criticism can be levelled at New Brighton's pre-Season. The lads have worked hard, indeed they have and they continue to work very hard, but the variety, scope and ingenuity of the sessions has kept everyone fresh, interested and challenged. Well done the coaches your preparation, planning and execution is great.

Just one little story that I heard regarding the Lions. It appears that in the build up to the first Test the management team were calling extra training sessions. Apparently, on one occasion when the management team turned up on the training pitch for one extra session they found themselves alone without a single player to be seen. My information tells me that Martin Johnston, who was having nothing of the extra - extra sessions, arranged a boat trip for the players and took it on himself to absent the playing squad for the day out.

I read the siren voices on the message board moaning and whinging about the squad and our training. Well, I took the time to go to most of the sessions, merely as an observer I hasten to add, my days of burning up the training pitch have unfortunately passed, but as an observer I was full of praise for all concerned. I'm giving no secrets away when I tell you that we are all going to be getting used to `Squeeze Ball' as a route to regular fast possession that rips holes in opposition defences. The lads have been running patterns after patterns as the ball carrier, the angles, support players and the options have been rehearsed and rehearsed seeking the perfect patterns that build into winning rugby.

Before I get carried away with the poetry, it is fair to say that the guts, grind, sweat and straining sinew that distinguishes pre season training has played its part but accompanied by quite a little science. Performance records on every player have been measured and logged and improvement targets set. We should have the fittest and fastest squad in the league this year.

The precise nature of your street knowledge will communicate a meaning of the word "savi". Most people would take savi to mean `In the know' or `knowledge' as in 'to have the savi'. Well I predict that our lads will have more "savi" than those we come to play against in this years league. I've learned a lot about the game by simply watching the sessions. Those fortunate enough to have taken part will certainly have benefited greatly.

Now what is all this intense preparation about? Well, with what I understand from the situation, the club is making a very serious effort to break out of the league and start a movement that will take us to National League Division One. Sounds good so far, but talk is cheap and to put some wheels onto the plan and some handles to drive it the decision was made to invest in the backroom infrastructure. Savi was appointed as Director of Rugby and the facilities of his company and the Wirral Rugby Academy were thrown into the equation.

I took some stick on the message board when I referred to Mike Johnston as a Human Performance Specialist, but that IS what he is. Mike devises specific exercises and training programmes to improve ones human performance. By that I mean that he increases muscle power so that an athlete can accelerate quicker, move faster and sustain their output for longer. He takes into account fat percentages, diet, cardio vascular and muscle fitness and a whole lot more that I don't know about. His Plyometric sessions are something to behold especially when our big lads bounce about tensing and exploding their muscles in a quite wonderful way. I leave your imagination to fill in the detail.

With regard to patterns of play well Savi and Steve Rule have some very clear ideas. They have been running offensive patterns with the ball carrier going to ground, the space protected by the first wave of support players with a further support player launching the next wave of attack with a further group punching forward in a similar way before launching yet another group who set up for the first group to keep the motion going. Clever stuff eh!? Anyway when they come to spread the play the pace and width of the attack were hugely impressive. I can hardly wait to see it put to practice in anger against a good team.

I could go on about defensive patterns and the mysterious world of Tony O'Brien and I could dig into the wonderful world of Rick Shuttleworth's coaching psyche, but that is a bit much for a simple fat lad like me and I leave this part of the my narrative at this point.

The next job we must all apply ourselves to is the promotion of the games. We need to build our crowds and pack the fans into Reeds Lane to cheer the lads on. Start spreading the word. At Reeds Lane, we have an Wirral Academy game on Friday August 17^th against Edinburgh followed by a SUNDAY clash with Preston Grasshoppers on August 19^th. That promises to be a great weekend.

The goodies continue to flow. Just 6 days later, we take on Orrell on Saturday 25^th, again at Reeds Lane, and before you fall foul of the rumours that the bottom has fallen out of Orrell think again. They have lost a few faces in the close season BUT there starting line up is still very strong and a real test for our lads.

Just to mark your card they will be going with MOST of the key names that played in the First Division last season. Livesy, Moffatt, Cussani, Broxton, Crammant, Whelding, Kerefoot, Craig, Wood, Pearce, Duggan, Kendrick, Riley, Lloyd Millachip and Co are, from what I hear, remaining at Edge Hall Road with Paul Bamber and a host of others coming in from their development team.

I expect August 25^th to be a big test for our lads and a great opportunity for the fans to get an idea of what the pre season training has been about and to gain a preview of the way rugby will be played by the Blues this coming season.

Mouth watering stuff eh!

Now lets all get POSITIVE and start talking up:

Our Club – Our Team – Our Coaches – Our Future –

Our Plans – Our Community.

June is Busting out all over, the sun is shining, the sky is BLUE, New Brighton have a huge trophy in the bag (even Simon Tushingham is impressed).

And now we are in the middle of the annual `Silly Season'……

Heaven forbid, but even Lol Connor hangs up his boots for a week or three at this time of the year. Players, coaches and support staff are entitled to their close season rest. Can you sense it...?. There's a BUT coming and in my view it is a BIG BUT…..

At this time of the year I believe the back room boys should be working overtime scheming, planning and cementing the foundations for the continued development of our club. OK we failed to win promotion. It was a close run thing and we all know that with just that little bit of luck it would have happened for us. Now, in the words of the SAGE:

"If what you did yesterday still looks good today,
Perhaps you have NOT done so much today !!?"

Clearly the moral being `DO NOT REST ON YOUR LAURELS'

I know Savi has been having meetings with players old and potentially new and I believe finance committees have been meeting to sort out and approve budgets, but again I fear we are failing to build in the `professional' infrastructure that will move us onwards to where I think we want to be.

Already I hear my critics bemoaning me with comments such as:
"What is the `Fat Man'on about now?"

• "We've appointed a new Director of Rugby, we are talking to players."
  
• "We are readying ourselves for a CHAMPIONSHIP season at our fourth attempt to break out of this league!"

"Well the `Fat Man' would say "This is a good start BUT!"

• " What about our general promotion and marketing plan? "
• " What about the match day program?"
• "What about our sponsorship incomes? "
• "What about further ground improvements? "
• "What about the development of our Match Day Event presentation? "
• "What are we doing to further SELL our product, club and rugby in general?"
• "What about the lottery bid? "
• "What about SRB 6 and Objective One funding?"

I hear the critics retort. "Bloody hell man we are only National League third division. There is no need for all that rubbish. It is an amateur game after all, and we have come a long way in the past few years. Time to consolidate and take stock for a season!"

Again my response is to say:

"SORRY but you is wrong lads"

The tour, end of season festivities like the Chapital Beaun Blue etc have generated a HIGH and a typical New Brighton POSITIVE BUZZZ…

Good stuff and I have no argument. But this is the very time that we could and should seize the initiative and BUILD on the positive BUZZZ.

Certainly we can increase our sponsorship income generated from the team's success and the very significant media presence we have in our social and economic community. That is IF we have the WIT and WILL to seize the initiative.

Certainly we can develop our corporate hospitality facility, usage and future income.. Similarly we can be planning to upgrade and improve our Match Programme, Match Day presentation and the promotion, marketing and selling of our product. I have not changed my mind or position on this point. WE ARE SEMI PROFESSIONAL.

Our product is based on a game of rugby which we charge the public and others to become involved with either sponsors or spectators. We pay monies to those producing the product ­ players, coaches, support staff etc BUT we fail to really grasp the initiative of packaging and marketing our product.

Go with the logic for a moment and consider the commercial parallels. So we buy in our semi professional production staff, we remunerate our designers and production managers. We finance our accommodation and performance arena BUT we decide NOT to push on the sales and marketing side in the belief that customers will beat their way to our door and buy our product…..!

Interesting isn't it.

"No it's not. You've been singing from that hymn sheet for years Bentley."

Yes again my critics are right in part. I have been singing this song for several years now. In 1996, I think it was, I recruited a group of Colts into work details and arranged the painting of the Blue and white you currently see around the club. (Ably supported by Pete Torgersen and funded by Daisy Wilcox)

Similarly I arranged for the BIG sign on the wall overlooking the members car park (Again funded by Daisy) and together with Frank Duff set about upgrading the old Blue, black and white programme. The introduction of colour and the new format was a good development, but it needs upgrading further again. The blue and white painting needs a re-touch and the general appearance of our club could do with uplifting. The entrance needs rethinking with the possible addition of turnstiles and the scoreboard would do well to be `freshened up' a bit.

I could go on but I trust the above gives an indication to the way I am thinking. Our match day event needs `spicing up' just a bit, as does our Match Day promotion. I do not think I have seen posters advertising a game since we played the Irish touring team… How many seasons ago was that ?. (With all due respect to Guy I do not mean the A4 computer printouts that he does so well for posting in the club)

Regarding the sponsorship question…I hear people saying

"it ain't like it used to be, sponsorship just isn't available these days. "
Stuff and nonsense. Savi and his Academy appear to do very - very well with their match day and seasons sponsorships.

Why.. BECAUSE they work hard and sell their product. Surely there is a lesson here. If the academy can get mid week crowds and significant sponsorship packages for a floodlit glorified COLTS game we can do better for NATIONAL LEAGUE competitive rugby. Indeed the BEST level of rugby played in our community!

We are already well into June and we have not played a game of league rugby at Reeds lane for many many weeks now….Yet we continue to command regular coverage and features in the local media for our sport and our club. Merely three and a half years ago New Brighton managed a paragraph in the single column reports that covered ALL Wirral teams results during the season. Now we have a Daily Post Tuesday sports Pull out that regularly features the Boys in Blue and or Wirral News and Globe coverage comes a close second to Tranmere Rovers…

Think of it a new generation of Wirral youth are growing up reading about the BLUES as the communities leading rugby club. New Brighton IS of increasing importance to the community, in sporting, social, business and financial terms. WE should fasten on to this FACT, seize the initiative and actively promote the marketing and selling of our very good and exciting product.

I'm tired. You are probably shell shocked and bored to have read this far. So I leave you with this thought.

'IF THOSE RUNNING OUR CLUB DO NOT BEHAVE IN A WAY THAT SUGGESTS THEY BELIEVE IN THE QUALITY AND MARKETABILITY

OF OUR PRODUCT ­

HOW CAN WE EXPECT OTHERS, WHO MIGHT BUY OUR PRODUCT,

TO BELIEVE IN US?'

Best wishes to all.

Enjoy the summer and lets hope to go two better next season

BENTLEY

Bathed in glamour but shrouded in suspicion the world of the Player Agent exploded in the public domain with Tom Cruise starring as `Jerry McGuire' in the film of the same name. Was Jerry McGuire a saint or a sinner ?

Audiences were left confused by Rod Tidwell's , "Show me the money" catch phrase contrasted by McGuire's enormous behind the scenes efforts promoting his player.

Wirral's Alastair Saverimmuto would have us believe that the Player Agent is the SAVIour of sporting aspirations. Mr Saverimutto's efforts with the Wirral Rugby Academy would certainly support his claim. Local youngsters have benefited from a world class training and coaching program that developed them from young hopefuls who lost 46-5 against Leicester in December to the conquering heroes who sent the Scottish Exiles and highly rated Worcester Development squads packing, after inflicting them with surprise defeats in April.

Critics would argue that `Savi' was only motivated by the fees he will earn from the best Academy players who move on to join the professional battalions of the big clubs around the world. Mr Saverimutto would counter by saying that the youngsters he fostered through to England and North representative honours would not have made the grade were it not for the intensive work put in by the Academy coaching team. Similarly the Wirral youngsters who signed professional contracts

eg

Paul Johnstone – Worcester Anthony Birley Sale U21s via Launceston

Adam Kettle England U19 Squad Christian Jones North of England U20s

"Not bad for the first 10 months, but just think what we will do in our second and third years. It's a very exciting time for the Academy, Wirral Rugby and the development of my company"

said Mr. Saverimutto.

"The lads that have moved on have a real chance of earning their living as professional players and the lads who have not quite made it are so much better now that they will be bringing a lot to our leading local clubs."

Having been appointed as the newly defined Director of Rugby at New Brighton, Mr. Saverimutto is certain to direct some of his young hopefuls to the Reeds Lane Club but, with the announcement that Academy players will also be playing senior rugby at Birkenhead Park and Caldy next season he insists his Academy involvement is for the general good of the community. "By providing a top quality training and development program for the best of the best in the Wirral everybody gains. No one Wirral club can offer what we can but they all stand to benefit from the player improvement we can deliver"

Yet heading up the Wirral Academy and Directing the Rugby at New Brighton is only a small part of the busy world of Alastair Saverimutto who represents the new breed of Business professional who are ploughing a new furrow in the rugby world.

Forced by injury to cut short an illustrious career as a professional player with Gloucester, Mr Saverimutto started his business by helping players he knew with their contract negotiations. From those humble beginnings, Savi International was born and now represents fifty International level rugby players.

A new development for Mr. Saverimutto into the world of International Gymnastics was marked earlier this year when British Champion Olympic Gymnast, Emma Williams, was added to his ranks. Critics might say next years Commonwealth Games in Manchester make it convenient for Saverimutto to be recruiting the British Gymnastics Champion, but he would counter by saying

"It is just good business for all concerned."

Promising student golfer Jamie Donaldson is another to join the Saverimutto Stable, which suggests a further development into yet another sporting arena for `Wirral's Jerry McGuire.' For those left in any doubt that Mr. Saverimutto is a very serious player in the sporting world, a visit to www.Savi.co.uk will satisfy any lingering doubts. Still under construction, the Savi International web site went live just a few weeks ago and is already drawing praise from rugby sources all over the world.

Ex Captain of Rugby School, Matt Hodders, is the man charged with collating and developing the website "It really is a state of the art site that is only just beginning to grow. We have put a year of hard work into developing the system, links and lots of technical features that mark the coming together of cutting edge technology and the world of sport. I'm delighted to be working for Savi International, It's an exciting place to be."

Working from impressive new offices in Priory Wharf overlooking the Mersey, Saverimutto oozes pride in his achievements and communicates boundless enthusiasm for the future.

Saint or Sinner?

Only time will tell if Mr. Saverimutto is the Savi-our of our sporting ambitions. New Brighton apparently think so, Wirral Academy players know so and many ambitious sporting aspirants will doubtless be thankful that he and Savi International are here right now on the Wirral promoting their cause.

BENTLEY

There are two teams above us …JUST

And Eleven teams below us…………Some by a long way !

BUT we had set our target on promotion.

Perhaps it was in our grasp !

Perhaps the leaders were just too good for us !

So what NOW…..

Like Rugby in general I fear we are short on leadership. If not we lack direction.

Those who fund the clubs extra income.. Bless Them…have a right to say how their money is spent. Unfortunately they perhaps lack the vision and know-how to go any further in the world of Semi Professional rugby.

The game HAS changed and what we knew in the halcyon days of our youth no longer `cuts the bacon at the pointed end of Semi Pro Rugby. Our recipe for the past has been good to this level but appears lacking to go further.

If you are serious about the game on the Wirral then read on….

If not, then STOP now as I will probably offend you.

I'm really stong in the Wirral having a competitive team playing as high as National League Div One I believe the Peninsula can produce and sustain a team playing at this level…Beyond that is too far even to consider at this stage…

BUT Div 2 on to Div 1 is, in my opinion, well within our grasp…

So why are we not getting out of Div 3 ?

Lol has done a great job for the Club…

He is a one off. Strong – Charismatic - Authoritative – Motivational – Knowledgeable

Unfortunately there is a BUT.

He and the Club need to move on in their Panning - Strategy – Recruitment – Youth/Player Development and Team Preparation.

It is no longer good enough to do things well…

We have to do the RIGHT things well

Indulge me for a moment and fold your arms.

Now unfold them and fold them again

BUT the second time have the arm that was underneath on top…!

Feels strange and uncomfortable doesn't it ???

What you have just experienced is CHANGE and it is often strange and uncomfortable…That is the territory of CHANGE…

My point being that we need to move some CHANGES at New Brighton and it appears to me that we are frightened and nervous about it…So much so that we are moving to where we already are!!!

NEXT POINT

Indulge me with another Cliché'

It gets harder and we have to do SO much more IF we REALLY want to grab that extra 20% that will give us promotion.

So how do we go about moving progress /

In my opinion the first thing we need to do is to MAKE A DECISION !

We are hardly likely to move forward IF we are not convinced that FORWARDS and UPWARDS is where we want to go.

I fear it is not good enough to say we want promotion, buy in a couple of journeymen players and do what has earned us 3^rd spot for the past 3 years.

Our players NEED to be FITTER, STRONGER and have more STAMINA to be able keep up the pace of the game.

The APPLIANCE of SCIENCE has burst into the world of sport with a vengeance in recent years. It is no longer good enough to rely on the shuttle runs, sit ups, press ups and BEASTING sessions that have served so well for so long.

Next time you are in the supermarket pick up a bag of potatoes…say about 8 lbs in weight. Now put that on your shoulder and imagine carrying it around a rugby field for 80 minutes…It would slow you down …YES !

The ration of BODY FAT to muscle mass is crucial in the modern game of rugby….

The portly power players of the past have had their day in higher level competitive rugby.

NOT that BIG players are not wanted in the game…their power and weight is of major importance …BUT IT MUST BE POWER and not just mobile adipose (fat).

POWER is crucial in the modern game NOT mere weight !

Without going into a lecture our lads need to set fitness targets, be advised HOW to reach their target and how to stay there…

Well we are only New Brighton, Bentleys off his head if he thinks our lads will commit to that level !…

Consider the fact that each punters pay £5 to watch these lads and sponsors give their cash to support the game and Alacadooes give of their cash to support the programme

I think it fair that the players, who get expenses, kit, beer, food and what is it these days £75 a game PLUS the honour and pleasure in playing the highest level rugby on the Wirral, make the commitment to eat right, train right and be ready for the games.

To this end we need a fitness adviser who:

KNOWS what REAL fitness is

Knows what the athletes have to do to achieve it

Knows how to monitor and test fitness levels

Similarly we need more to our game than the forward dominated system we currently play…We nearly embraced it early season but went back into our comfort zones when DKS beat Doncaster and we went there determined NOT to let their backs destroy us…OK we won the game and looked very much in control…

BUT I fear that was the game when we moved away from the expansive tactics that destroyed Stourbridge in the first half at Reeds Lane and put 79 past Morley

I fear that was the game when we started playing of insecurity and nervousness and moved away from the CONFIDENCE that is essential to WIN leagues..

A level of detail planning, preparation and execution is required throughout the infrastructure of the club if we REALLY want to move onwards and upwards. .

Here I come up with my favourite moan…

It is a very real factor in developing and branding a club within a community.. The stuff I have written in the papers over the past three-four years is significantly better than the nondescript coverage we had pre 1995-6 BUT it is NOT enough.

We MUST address this non playing side of our strategy:-

Of course there is more, of course there is detail as well as the big picture and of course it takes time and effort. BUT I firmly believe we CAN do it and if we plan it well it will NOT cost more to do it right and win as opposed to do it NEARLY right and …well you know the rest.

Another cliché'

To FAIL to PLAN

Already I see the half measures and half actions taking place behind the scenes and already I see the COMPROMISE solutions being adopted…

OK IF that is what we want fair enough…BUT IF we REALLY – REALLY wanted to move onwards and upwards it is there in or grasp so to achieve…

Our backers have done us proud with their financial support BUT

If we spend £1000 and we should have spent £1050

If we hanker for the Corinthian Traditions of the rugby we have known and loved prior to the semi professional era…Then we can have it

BUT we will miss out on the prize that COULD be there in our community if we had the will and vision to pursue it !!

Enough for now I can already hear my critics sharpening their knives…

I've been criticised many times in the past for being RIGHT and I expect to be criticized now for being RIGHT again.!!!

Best Wishes

BENTLEY

But so very few who will stick their neck out and give a single reason WHY we COULD and SHOULD move onwards and upwards.

I went to Headingley on Sunday to watch the Leeds v Worcester league clash. It was a memorable occasion with an `Official' crowd of 5,500 (I think a significantly larger unofficial crowd.) Two sets of supporters had turned out in force to see their teams battle for the pole position for promotion into the Premiership and the circa £1,800,000 Central sponsorship to help their budget next year and a fixture list that brings Leicester, Bath, Gloucester, Newcastle and ALL the giants of the game to THEIR stadium.

OK both clubs have enjoyed private backing from Messers Cecil Duckworth and Paul Caddick. Just three weeks ago I was fortunate to be invited by Paul Caddick to join him for a coffee after the Leeds v Orrell game. He proudly showed me and a few friends around the Headingley ground and was delighted to talk about the expansion plans and ground development he had in train for the future. I too was gripped by his enthusiasm and love of the game and his community.

Already I hear the Nay-says criticising the venture, complaining that his advantage of owning the stadium, Leeds Tykes and the Rhinos is not fair and that his venture is fool hardy. It didn't seem fool hardy to me on Sunday when the community pride from both sets of fans generated an electric and magnificent atmosphere not to mention tens of thousands of pounds in gate money..

Conversely I have witnessed the mind set of the management at local rivals Orrell. I've noted their cash problems, possible deals with JJB and Wigan Rugby League, probable deal with Wayne Homes and a near disaster on the field positioning their team precariously in the relegation zone. Should they and Waterloo fail to score the wins in the remaining games they will drop a division and in so doing, loose £130,000 from their Central sponsorship income.

The transition from amateur to professional status in an unproved spectator sport is thwart with difficulty. Orrell, Waterloo, Richmond and the latest victims of the financial `Bear Trap', Wasps is a salutary lesson for all in the game.

BUT.....Rugby IS coming as a spectator sport. We have almost wall to wall worldwide TV coverage of our sport in unprecedented quantity and quality. Just cast your mind back a few years. Good old BBC screened the 5 Nations a few other Internationals and the occasional clip of the Twickenham 7s and a Barbarian game or two. That was it. We could go MONTHS with no TV coverage at all. Now we have rugby chat shows, review programmes, virtually every International, Super 12s Weekly Club Match of the Day, the European Cup and a TV promotion machine that defies description. Check the ratings,,,, Rugby IS well supported by the viewer and Mr Murdock is making nice profits from his subscriptions and advertising incomes.

The casualties are unfortunate; no one likes to see a famous name of the past go into insolvency and their tradition to obscurity. BUT that is the way of the world, Natural Selection and the Survival of the Fittest is a fundamental law of nature! Rugby as a spectator mass media sport IS happening already. It WILL continue to happen and develop for those with the vision, skill and energy to take advantage of the opportunity. There have been casualties and there will be still more casualties, but there will also be surprising winners and very BIG winners. It saddens me a little that we here on the Wirral continue to argue amongst ourselves, fight to preserve outdated practice and tradition and cling to the memories of an illustrious past. In the meantime the likes of Leeds and Worcester, with little or no rugby union pedigree are positioning for the Glory days that they and their communities are PROBABLY going to enjoy.

In the past successful businessmen gifted Museums, Art Galleries and Civic monuments to their community. In the modern era there are those who choose to GIFT funds to establish and build sporting teams and clubs. The cosy traditional fellowship of rugby clubs will throw up many who, like Luddites, will gather to decry , ridicule and criticise the extravagant developments and efforts of others. I believe History will show that the end of the 1990s and the early part of the third millennium will demonstrate that the future Manchester United's, Liverpool's and Arsenals of the rugby world made their moves at this time. Similarly there will be those of weak will, poor management and little courage that will go the way of Accrington Stanley.

We still have a chance to position a Wirral club for promotion to perhaps the National League First Division and then consider if this community can support a Premiership club…I believe Merseyside well able to provide an environment where Premiership Rugby could survive and even thrive and I see no reason why such a `Premiership' club should not be situated on this side of the water.

I repeat the points I have repeatedly made for near a decade now. A Co-operative collaboration between local clubs, business, commerce, education and civic bodies could well produce and deliver a senior rugby club on the Wirral. After all there is a probable 50% EEC funding support package available right now throughout a wide geographic area. While we occupy our time and argument on justifying the status quo, others around the country are positioning to do right by their communities securing a Premiership or First division facility to benefit their neighbourhood. So long as the best WE can offer is effectively Division 4 rugby the best players and the talented sons of Wirral will continue to migrate away from the community of their birth. All our complaining and moaning will not stop that.

Either we believe in the sport and our community or we do not…It really is that simple. Should we generate the confidence and ambition to move Onwards and Upwards the funding would be found, the backers would come forward and the community would solve the problems. As it is we continue to strive and fight to preserve excellence in a small pool but mediocrity in the big picture!

Enough for now, I fear the debates will continue justifying a hundred reasons why we should NOT and the voice of the visionary continue to be ridiculed. I repeat an anecdote used by me in the past:-

Enjoy the game, enjoy the season and do not be afraid to dream !

BENTLEY

Perhaps not so much Bull!?

Pete Clark weighed in with his usual astute observations…Frank did a masterful job as Regimental Sergeant Major Briton……For those who don't know, he was the countries leading toastmaster at major functions for years…Remember him? The chap with the big handlebar moustache and the scarlet toastmaster jacket….No! well never mind. Frank did an excellent impersonation in his white jacket..

Captain Jaffa did well and Dave York weighed in with the Post Script to round it all off.

Yes it was a good night….BENTLEY, however, does not agree with some of the messages coming from the night…But you would be surprised if I did.

Rugby Dinners are about friendship, fellowship and tradition. They are about good humour, good food and not just a little alcohol to lubricate the mood and spirit…….. Denis was in fine form. His delivery was quite brilliant…Yes that's my honest opinion I felt his diction, enunciation and timing were quite excellent. OK. He shouted once in a while…but his dramatic pauses, delivery and sense of drama were pure magic. Look out Frank his time as President is reaching full term and he will be wanting a new position.

Now…regarding to my disagreement with some of the messages coming out of the night. It was mentioned that we should be looking to the great days of the past and celebrating in the memories of a 4^th and 5^th XV. Similarly we should be saluting the 3^rd XV as the "Backbone of our club." Quite so I hear you say

Now I ask you to think again…What is New Brighton Football Club (RU) seeking to achieve ?

Do we want to develop a Semi Pro 1^st XV competing in the 1^st Division of the National League?

Do we want to be building our crowds, sponsorships and a sound commercial infrastructure ?

Do we want to be an increasing force at the head of Northern rugby ?

If we harbour any of the above then we have to think again about a 4^th and 5^th XV. <

They are a magnificent chapter in the history of this Club. BUT If we want to develop along the lines of a semi professional outfit climbing the competitive ladder then 4^th & 5^th XV rugby have no part in our future.

For the moment we can accept the notion of a hard drinking, intrepid touring 3^rd XV….. but we should NOT seek to foster anything more than a social team for `The Olds' who have passed their `Sell by Date' in the 1^st & 2nd XV's and still want to play their rugby here at Reeds Lane. IF we are really serious about moving Onwards and Upwards, however, a 3^rd XV has no real part in the future where we are `pursuing excellence' neither is it the vehicle for developing and maturing the best of our young talent..

IF and it is a big `IF'……… If we are really seeking to move into the semi professional game we MUST focus ALL our energy and acumen on the 1^st XV.

Already I hear the roars of disapproval and the good old lads at the bar contenting themselves with the usual popular comments:-

Sorry lads….BUT IF we are serious about moving Onwards and Upward then…….. You is wrong!

In my experience a serious semi professional club with ambition in rugby football cannot be easily married with the needs and requirements of a `traditional' club. Not impossible but difficult and distracting.

We have no fitness suite at Reeds Lane, we have no indoor training facilities at Reeds Lane, we have poor corporate hospitality facilities, we have no real match day PA, we have negligible commercial and promotional capacity and at present appear to be spread-eagled between the two disciplines.

I fear that our thinking is based on memories of a late lamented era, emotion and a forlorn hope of success. It is not based on well thought out proven, tried and tested strategies and methods. We are not alone in this position. Indeed we are better than most with the majority of rugby clubs in our green and pleasant land continuing to tread the same impossible path with benefactors paying for others to play the game in a loss making spiral.

I fear it will not be long before further disputes flare up between our Twickenham fathers and the Premiership Clubs. Similarly I fear that anything can happen regarding the future organisation of our game. When they cannot legislate for promotion and relegation issues at the outset of the league, we can have little confidence in their ability to provide dynamic, incisive and visionary leadership,.

I think I've said enough for this chapter of Bentleys Bull……..There is, however, more. Much more for whoever wants to read it. Watch this space for more BENTLEYS BULL,,,SOON!

Best wishes

Bentley

to

`STEVO'

No..!!.. STEVO has been a REAL GOOD-UN

His training regime of Guinness and `Pie-Oids served him and Marco for hundreds and hundreds of 1^st XV games for the Blues. I know not precisely how many but believe it to be over 700 between them….What an achievement ! and What a servant to the cause.

Stevo has been part of the `Backbone'…`The Spine' that has seen New Brighton climb through the lean years to the GLORY times of the past six years…

Stevo has been there…A fixture in the front row to anchor the pack and reek havoc with the opposition.

I remember when I first toured with the club in Romania, or `Rumania' has Kevin Brookman would have you think. STEVO held his Tour Virgins Court…Now that was a frightening experience. Anyone who has received a verdict from JUDGE STEVO will know what I mean.

I will miss his presence at Reeds Lane and his jaundiced sense of humour..

The Lad did good….A credit to himself and an example to us all.

I'm sure we'll still be seeing lots of the BIG FELLA in the future …

But for Now:-

Good Luck STEVO

From The Fat Man.

And there he is again! Blues short of forwards for key fixture against Sedgley Park on Saturday, so Stevo was recalled to the colours. And, as ever, did a sterling job.

Very well done Steve, the Club owes you.

Few will forget the thriller between these two clubs in the Spring of 1998 when over 2000 fans streamed into sun drenched Reeds Lane to witness a modern day classic. So tight was the game that despite five successful drop goals, the teams were still locked together after 80 mins of pulsating action for a 28 - 28 drawn result. Victory over Widnes the following week gave New Brighton the Championship and the promotion that brought National League rugby to the Wirral.

Doncaster won promotion the following season to renew the annual Blues versus Tykes battles. Playing out of their new £2.8 million complex, the Yorkshire club remains fiercely ambitious for success. Doncaster's recruits include Ex Leicester and England International John Liley and experienced coach Derek Eves, under whose guidance they have a thriving development programme that brings Yorkshire's best into their 1st XV.

Liley orchestrated a 11 - 3 Doncaster win over the Blues in September to inflict the first defeat of the season on Connors men. Indeed, we have to go as far back as August 1999 since the Blues last beat the Tykes in League rugby. Doncaster undid New Brighton's promotion drive last season with a score in the last minute of yet another pulsating encounter to squeak a 20 - 18 win that let Kendal in for the championship. Reeds Lane again promises to be the place to be on Saturday as these two clubs line up for the third game in as many seasons that could determine the League and promotion.

Check League Table

New Brighton, Stourbridge and Doncaster all have to travel to 'in form' Sedgley Park before the end of the season. Sedgley have won 14 of their last 15 games and have been racking up points in recent weeks with another 56 on Saturday. They have now the best score points difference in the League. So tight is this year's title race that slide rules and calculators may well be required to separate the teams.

With the top teams North and South gaining automatic promotion to Div 2 and the second teams involved in a play off for the third promotion place, New Brighton are well in the race with everything to play for. After appearing so strong earlier in January, Stourbridge have been faltering in recent weeks and looking distinctly vulnerable. Sedgley Park will be favourites to win at home against the other title chasers and present a tough challenge for both New Brighton and Stourbridge. But, with the exception of the trip to Manchester based Sedgley, New Brighton have the more difficult away games behind them and are looking good for a top two finish. At least on paper!.

Not only needing to win their games, the Blues must push up their points difference. A 79 -point haul against Morley earlier in the season shows that they have the backs to do it. The signing of Beauchamp is an indication that the Club Directors are giving every support to their Club as the Wirral men battle it out in the closest and most exciting league championship for years.

BEGINNING THE BULL

TEAM 2001

I have seen some very good teams and several great players since I arrived at Reeds Lane some five years ago. It seems like an eternity since I put my kit on and ran YES RAN onto the training field to work with Lol on the coaching panel.

From what I remember the Coaching panel in those days was Lol and Yours Truly. Kevin Brookman weighed in with a captains input and there was the occasional U-N-F-O-R-G-E-T-A-B-L-E appearance of Gareth - F***ing hell Boy, that's useless. You would be as much use in the second row of the stands -Hopkins.

I'm sure there are many HOPKINS memories and quotes that others might like to remind us of. I await with interest your contributions posted on the Discussion Forum.

However, back to the plot. The point I am seeking to make is this. I believe the squad currently signed to NBFC are the strongest group of players that I have seen since I have been a member at Reeds Lane. Furthermore, with Messer's Atherton, Rule, Shuttleworth and Sutton supporting the work of Cur Connor, sorry I meant Sir Connor. Although after a 90 minute `beast session' I suspect there are those who might call him a Cur.What is a Cur anyway?

So with the best group of players in many a long year and with nearly enough coaches for one between four should we not be BLOWING AWAY the other leading Clubs in our league ?

I think YES!I think that despite our big talk we are NOT playing BIG and that we are NOT playing off confidence.

Consider the home game against Stourbridge. We smacked them in the opening minutes and left them wondering what had hit them. Please remember that BIG NICK was not in the line up and we had Jez, King Campbell, Foxy and Captain Inspirational across the second row of the scrum. The line up did it for me with BIG men getting about the field like thoroughbreds and hitting the breakdowns faster and earlier than I have ever seen them do before, or since.

My point is that with this line up we were forced to go wider and play faster simply because we believed we did not have the weight and power to take them on in a tight, pick and drive, forward battle. The rest is history, we smacked them and stretched to a 24 point lead.

It was only later on in the game when the team appeared to breathe in and decide to `Slow it down and shut them out' that they came back for the late scores that made the result look respectable for them. Had we kept our foot to the floor and continued to play with belief and confidence for one believe that we could have run up a much bigger score against them. Had we done that I believe we would have put a severe dent in their on going confidence. Well having got into a winning position we did not go on to bury them. We slacked off, let them back into the game and gave them enough to salvage their confidence as opposed to going on to shatter it !

When we played at Stourbridge, the opposition were as nervous as us. In the minds of their players they KNEW that we had more than they and had we played with the confidence and belief we showed for the first hour in the game we played against them up here. I think we might again have BLOWN them AWAY.

Herein lies my belief. We are a better team than even the coaches and players believe we are.