Ever since I sarrived at Grangefield Grammar School in 1969 Rugby has been part of my life.

Three years earlier England led by Bobby Moore had won the Jules Rimmet Trophy at Wembley, I was still struggling to find my place in a football team. At Roseworth Junior School I had made it onto the school football team only to get sent off for what I thought was a perfect tackle (remember these were the days of Norman 'Bites Yer Legs' Hunter and Ron 'Chopper' Harris, who believed that the ball was an incidental distraction to tackling the man).

At Grangefield I discovered an outlet for my sporting talents (and, to be honest, 'chunky' physique).

In the years since - as player and spectator - my love for the oval-ball game has never diminished.
 

For a number of years I had the privilege of being closely involved with the Newcastle Falcons Supporters Club and during this time wrote a regular column for the match day programme - some of the articles I wrote are amongst the items appearing here and it is interesting to look back and see how things have changed (or not) over time ...