HAVING had several weeks of lockdown nostalgia, we can start today with some up-to-date news as the Club is pleased to announce the appointment of our two new coaches for the 2020-21 season. It is a pleasure to welcome Nathan Gosling as Head Coach and Stuart Lowe as First XV Coach.

Nathan has a wealth of experience and began his rugby career with London Welsh Juniors in 1981 and progressed through the age groups before playing for Wasps U21 and then returning to London Welsh Seniors in 1993.

Twelve years playing at Barnstaple and currently Head Coach of the Devon Under 20s, there is no doubt he has a quality background and will be able to bring the best out of our players.

Asked why he wanted to take on the coaching role at Crediton, Nathan said that, having been to Crediton as a player and a coach, he has always enjoyed the atmosphere at the Club and never had a bad experience here.

As head of the Developing Player Pathway for the County, Nathan would often make use of the Club facilities for coaching sessions and knowing Shane Bayley and Danny Howard as Junior coaches, respected their values and behaviours around playing and participation.

He added that it was a hugely exciting opportunity to learn and grow as an individual and at the same time honour the great history of the Club, he is impatient to get started!

Stuart Lowe will be a familiar name to many of us. Exmouth born and bred and has been such a force in the Exmouth Club as a player and was also coach there whilst they were in National Two.

Stuart will know Crediton pretty well, having played against us on a number of occasions and is known to many of the players.

Stuart has a busy job as Head of PE at Exmouth School and has been working with Nathan as the Devon Under 20s coaches.

Stuart is impressed with the Club set up and is looking forward to being a part of the new coaching regime at Crediton. He will bring his specialist knowledge to the Club and we look forward to their arrival whenever the Coronavirus allows.

These are exciting times for Crediton RFC and especially for the players and, hopefully, they will respond in the appropriate manner.

Of course, we are all in limbo as none of us know when we can start training for the new season but at least we shall be prepared when some form of normality returns.

NOSTALGIA

So to the nostalgia, this time a memory from David Kemp who started playing in the Colts in 1962-63 and went on to play more than 450 games for the Club, with 181 in the First XV.

Full-back David recalled a trip to Bideford in December 1970. We were going through a poor spell of form whereas Bideford were riding high at the time. Add to that the fact the Bideford was seldom a happy hunting ground for us and the outcome should have been easy to predict.

The game itself was reported at the time as being so one-sided that it was almost embarrassing, the home side had so much possession but, as their reporter noted, “the backs threw away every hard won advantage with one of the most consistent displays of wanton carelessness and bungling ever seen on the ground”, harsh words indeed.

At half-time though, we were 3-6 behind but nonetheless still in the game, two Bideford penalties to one from fly-half Ian Penny.

In the second half a try from Ken Clover, converted by Penny gave us an 8-6 lead and when man of the match Penny. under severe pressure landed a superb drop goal, suddenly we were 11-6 ahead with time running out.

Bideford did score a late try which, had the conversion been successful, would have drawn the game. As it was, the relatively easy conversion was sliced wide and Kirton had won 11-9.

As David said, it was something of a mystery as to how we won the game but it certainly was a turning point in the season as the wins came along a bit more regularly from then on.

Unfortunately, we don’t seem to have a team photo from 1970-71 so may I ask if any readers have one, perhaps they would let me know and hopefully allow me to make a copy.

Paul Harris