THE NORTHWICH RUFC COLUMN - By John Blower

THIS Saturday is designated as Past Players and Officials Day at Northwich Rugby Club, Moss Farm.

A widely circulated invitation to as many of our past players, male and female that we could get in touch with has been distributed.

But we need our community’s help.

If you’re aware of an ex-club member please pass on the date and invite, to them.

We already know of some people making their first visit to the club for decades!

We recently published this gym session photograph on our social media, proudly displaying one of our first silverwares, won in 19882/83 and asked for information regards some forgotten names, apologies to those ex-members.

In the picture above are, front row, left to right, Naylor M, Wilding T, Woods S, Clarke P, Burgess G (with cup), Townsend D, Penney M, Naylor C, Blake S.

Middle row, left to right, Chappel J, C Hart, Einemann D, ?, Harrison T, Chaplin C (sitting), Eyers T, Duffy R, Nancollis J, Bottomley A, Frazer D, Carrol J, Hudson P, Breeze J, James B.

Back row, left to right, Wingfield P, Savage L, ?, Ledwith A, Bridge S, Nixon R.

Northwich, previously named Mid-Cheshire College (MCC), won the Winnington Park 75th Jubilee Anniversary Tournament, beating Southport in the final. MCC sustained their high quality rugby throughout the pool and semi-final stages, without conceding a point.

Final: MCC 9 Southport 6. In a hard-fought game MCC took the lead through a brilliant left-foot drop goal by Kieth Jones. In the second half, Peter Hudson scored a try and conversion. Then a late flurry by Southport snatched some points right at the end of play.

MCC captain Mike Naylor received the trophy and commemorative plaque from Sid Bowden.

Winning MCC squad: Townsend, Wilde, Jones, Cole, C Naylor, Hudson, Dodd, Rossiter, Clarke, Walkden, Frazer, Phillips, M Naylor, Jones, James, Wilding, Pendleton, Heath, Watkin.

Most of this squad will be in attendance on March 14.

A number of ex-players who participated on the club’s first Easter tour to South Wales in 1971 will be attending the reunion and will no doubt regale us with stories and jest of a bygone time in our proud history.

Of course there are plenty of players who have represented our teams over the years, so it’s a perfect day for us to invite all of our former players to enjoy the day.

Once again the club will be putting a buffet on for everyone, starting from 1pm, with a 3pm kick-off for the clash against Penrith RFU.

Here’s hoping that we see even more past players this year, and spin even more yarns about just how good we were, back in the day.