Norman died suddenly on Monday 28th February, at the age of 58. Norman played for Tynedale junior sides in the late 70's after playing 20 years at Percy Park, North Durham and Winlaton. When he gave up playing Norman, affectionately known as "Speedy Reedy", turned to refereeing where his cheerful disposition ensured he was always a welcome guest accross the north-east rugby scene.
Jim died suddenly, but peacefully, at home on January 31st 2000, aged 83 years. Jim frequented Tynedale home matches for many years and was respected for his quiet,friendly manner and his sensible observations. Unfortunately Jim had missed the past season or so due to failing health - he will be remembered but sadly missed.
Bill who was a long-standing member of the club sadly died during January 2000. Bill was a prop forward who gave great stalwart playing service to the club and played in Tynedale's 1948 cup-winning side.
At the end of a magnificent, unforgettable league championship winning season there are a few facts and figures worth sharing (league games only):-
Season 1999-2000 will go down as a truly remarkable season with the Club having picked up the following honours:-
Both the Grasshoppers and the Hadrians played their respective Cup Finals on Saturday 8th April at Northern and both ended victorious.
The Hoppers beat Newcastle University Centaurs (their 2nd XV) 25-13 whilst the Hadrians beat Border Park 25-6. Both matches were excellent examples of competitive rugby at this level - played with a high level of skill and committment in the best of competitive spirits.
The Hoppers were up against a strong University side and it was only in the dying minutes that they gained a convincing lead - scoring 10 points in added time. Although the Hadrians score also looks convincing it was only in the last ten minutes of a hard, fast, entertaining encounter that they eased away from old rivals Border Park with three fine tries.
The top points scorer for the first team was Alan 'Remi' Moses with 343 points whilst the top try scorer was Epi Taione with 20 tries. (the First XV scored 119 tries in total).
Tynedale hosted a 40 strong party of Argentenean tourists on Saturday 11th March when Argentinean 2nd Division side Palermo Bajo Cordoba RFC played a mixed Raiders/Hadrians XV. A very strong, athletic Argentenian side ran out 29-19 winners in a very keenly contested match.
The tourists also played matches against Coventry 2nd XV, Cross Keys and Newbury.
The Raiders won "The Bob Hardman Cock o' the North Trophy" for 1998-1999 when they travelled down to Macclesfield on Saturday 11th December 1999 and won 24-7 against Maccledfield II's.
The match was the final (held over from the end of last season) in which Macclesfield (winners of the Western Section of the '512' Merit table) played the Raiders who topped the sixteen team Eastern Section. The trophy is competed for by the second teams of clubs in North 1 & 2 and from Jewson North 2.
John Clark was instrumental in reviving the Senior County Sevens Tournament with the event taking place on Sunday 7th May 2000 at Tynedale Park. The event was previously held in 1995.
Tynedale signed off an excellent season by winning the event.
Tynedale Park hosted a Veterans Match (35yrs - 55yrs) on Saturday 4th December when a team from Workington played against a team from Tynedale. Workington came out 20-12 victors in an even well contested match although Workington, who adopted a 'no-kicking' policy, were aghast at some of the tactical punts of their Tynedale counterparts.
The Cumbrians brought a "squad" of almost 40 and stayed the night in Hexham after a successful old-fashioned sing-song etc in the Clubhouse after the match. The match was instigated by Workington lad "Pud" Clarke who propped for Tynedale First XV in the late '70's.
Figuring among the Tynedale ranks were Gus Murray, who won 'man of the match', Andy Oglethorpe, Gary Rutherford, Ian Dodds, Gary Taylor, Fred Dickenson, Steven Dunn and Mark Twelftree.
Workington hold an annual 'Veteran's Tournament' in August and it's hoped that Tynedale can muster a representative party to enter next year's event.
Nineteen year old Andrew Murray, younger brother of 1stXV Number 8 Jamie, and son of Tynedale legend 'Gus', demonstrated unusual versatility when playing for the Raiders against Middlesbrough Wasps on Saturday 27th November 1999.
Andrew, normally a very promising flanker, started the match for the second game running in the stand-off position due to a spate of injuries and unavailabilities. With 25 minutes gone there was no score and the Raiders were struggling to win quality ball, particularly in the line out. Tynedale were awarded a penalty in the Boro half which stand-off Murray duly kicked into touch ten metres from the Boro line. At this stage Murray exchanged places in the lineout with Number eight Andrew Robson. The Number 10 shirt soared into the heavens to claim excellent possession which was quickly whisked to second row Fergus Mitchell who drove over for the opening try.
Perhaps the First XV should consider this move with Cramby!
For the records Andrew moved to Number 8 for the second half, was instrumental in several second half tries and missed the last conversion of the match with a drop kick. Andrew also played hooker for the Colts.
The Raiders also won the Journal "Team of the Month" Award for September 1999.
Epi Taione was included in the final Tongan World Cup squad of 30 players.
Tonga's games in Pool 'B':-
Epi was the ninth yougest player in this year's World Cup Tournament - he was 20yrs 6mths 29days old when the Tournament began on Friday October 1st. The youngest player was a Romanian (19yrs 1 mth) whilst Jonny Wilkinson was fifth youngest (20yrs 4mths).
Have you read the E-Mail we received from Epi prior to the start of the tournament?
(27/09/99) - Epi not in squad to face New Zealand. He has been told however that he will figure in the later pool matches.
(10/10/99) - Epi played on left wing against Italy on Sunday 10th October. Tonga won 28-25 in a thrilling finish.
Epi, after a dodgy start in which his hands let him down on a couple of occasions, played quite an important part in their victory - being influential in both of Tonga's first half tries. Epi's thunderous tackling was a feature of the match and he would have been quite happy with his contribution. Well done Epi!
Certainly the ITV commentators never missed an opportunity to talk about Epi .
(13/10/99) - Epi named on the bench against England this Friday.
(15/10/99) - Epi came on as second half replacement and played an "active" part in proceedings - he did appear to be one of the few Tongans enjoying themselves. "Who knows - if only Epi had been on from the start!!
A warm greetings and regards to you all from Pretoria South Africa. Thank you for what you have done for me in the last year or two that I've been with you guys, It is a great honour to be part of the Tonga National Squad for this year world cup but without your help and your love I would be nothing, but It's a great privelege to have such chance.
Anyway preparation is going really well and maybe this is fittest I have ever been throughout my rugby career so I'm pretty happy with the preparation so far. I'm a bit bored sometimes coz' everything is too serious but I have to live up withit. Sometimes things are a bit weird due to the fact that every player in this squad plays Super 12 and Provincial rugby and I do feel out of place but again it is a challenge for me to work harder which I do.
I miss you all I wish you we're all here so that we do things in our own way.(who shag the cat? !!) I'm the youngest in the squad and most cheeky one which I've been invovled with every bust up in this camp.(I haven't lost any fight ha! ha!). Again I'm trying hard to be more professional in what I'm doing.(Eat 3 chicken instead of half a chicken) just joking. I'm just praying that no injury will occur in the next 2 weeks so that will be cool and play for all of you in the world cup and kick the poms ass (he! he!) it's allright Peter co'z you're Scottish.
Our first game is on the 3rd of Oct and I'm still pushing hard for the test spot on the wing which I CAN AND I WILL for the All Blacks test. I think I have a really good chance challenging the test spot. Anyway good luck for Saturdays game may the FORCE BE WITH YOU and I know you gonna win if John Fletcher lose some more weight and Simon used his brain instead of leading the team through his a--- (just joking). Anyway have a great start for the season and we'll join up in Oct sometimes and surely we gonna promote this seaon big time.
My telephone number is (011) 254 2200
fax is (011) 254 2201
and Im in room Ext 222.
Regards to Richard and Marian keep up the good work, more money for the team. John Shotton stop being a dirty b------s, and the Gledsons keep smiling.
Thanks, Epeli Taione.
P.S To Emma party hard and keep away from Soa coz he just to be away fform training, fake injuries.
Captains for season 1999-2000 were as follows:-
Promotion to the national leagues, where touch judges are supplied by the RFU, means that Mike is now redundant as our league touch judge. The most honest touch judge in the league, Mike has been filling the role for the past 11 years since he gave up refereeing and has only missed the very occasional match - usually as a result of his annual skying jaunts.
Mike is however not lying down yet - he intends to continue accompanying the 1st XV on their away trips and will still run the line when required for friendlies, practice matches etc as well as refereeing the occasional junior fixture. His services will probably also be required as a 'fourth official' at home league matches where he will look after replacements etc.
Thanks Mike - we are all gratefull for your presence and efforts over the years.
Mike has missed very few of Tynedale's matches over the years and has some favourite memories:-
Whilst clearing out a cupboard in the clubhouse, Douglas Hamilton came across an old book of accounts dating back to 1947. The information in the book provides an interesting insight into the administration of Tynedale RFC in the immediate post-war years and also into life in a small market town. Douglas has summarised the records in a letter - View the Letter.
Tynedale Rugby Club was honoured on Tuesday 30th November 1999 when it was presented with the Ted Woodman Trophy for Club of the Year at the Tynedale Sports Council's annual award event, sponsored by Tyne Valley Insurance Services.
The trophy was presented by Newcastle United and England soccer star Kieron Dyer at a packed Tynedale Farmer Function Suite. The award was:-
"In recognition of the way the club dominated Northumberland rugby, with the first XV winning the Senior Cup, while the Grasshoppers also won their county cup and the Raiders were runners up.
"The club staged a highly successful international schools rugby festival in September, and enjoyed many successes at mini/junior level.
"A clincher, however, was that, after many years of adopting an isolationist policy, they also agreed to share their fine facilities at Corbridge with a local junior football club"
The Rugby Club demonstrated their all round sporting prowess when they overcame "The Feathers" to win Tynedale Cricket Club's annual knockout trophy. In an exciting final Tynedale won by two runs with "The Feathers" failing to make the required 12 runs from the final over.
Man of the Match was that well known athlete Neil "The Cat" Foster. Neil, who is primarily in the team for his fielding ability, effectively turned the course of the match when he swooped in to claim a magnificent towering catch when it seemed with four overs remaining that "The Feathers" were coasting to victory.
The Final Team was: Dan Maddison, Gordon Dodd, Alan Gledson, Hugh Mainwaring, Andrew Vipond, Alan Moses, Ian Donkin, Simon Clayton-Hibbott, Neil Foster, John Fletcher, Derek Stephenson.
Corbridge Junior Football Club have their under-12 team training and playing at Tynedale Park during the 1999-2000 season. The youngsters from the village are playing on Sunday afternoons on a 90m x 45m pitch on the east side of the ground whilst the under-12's and other age groups are training on Saturday mornings on an area adjacent to their playing pitch.
At the AGM on Monday 13th July the following changes were introduced:-
Keith Laidler was appointed Chief Executive - replacing Douglas Hamilton who stood down. Douglas remains on the Executive Committee (replacing Micky Lee who stood down).
Fourteen schools from England, Wales, and Scotland took part in an event planned and set up by a small committee headed by Alex Kerr of Hallington (tel. 01434 672816).
The following schools competed:-
Late round scores:-
Tynedale Rugby Football Club wish to thank the following sponsors who supported the inaugural competition:-
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Tarmac Quarry Products (North East) |
The Territorial Army |
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William Thompson Ltd |
Grant Thornton |
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Henry Colbeck Oils | |
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Northumberland Young Farmers |
Creative Edge |
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Astral Textiles |
Newcastle Building Society |
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Edwin Doran Sports Travel |
Northumbria Water |
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SCA Packaging | |
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Robson Print Ltd |
Divanie |
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