1960-1961 ANECDOTES

1960-1961 ANECDOTES

The season started with a tour of the delights of Liverpool, more accurately with visits to New Brighton, Birkenhead Park and Sale R.F.C.’s. The results included a bit of everything There was a loss to New Brighton by 5-26, the only try being scored by Geoff Frankcom, later to go on to Cambridge University and achieve England fame. Against Birkenhead Park things improved with a win by 17-8, and the final game against Sale ended in a nil-nil draw. Included in the Bath side were Ian Balding, later to become trainer of many of the Queen’s horses, and Ian Beer who years later became Top Man at the Rugby Football Union. The games took place on Sept 3/5/6 with 9 players taking part in all three games – and today’s players think they have it hard! Only Bath and Sale still play at the highest level.

On the lighter side, legend has it that prop David Robson had a huge catch at a seaside diversion.
It appears that the fish got larger at every re-telling of the tale!

THE CHESHIRE TOUR
“A tired but happy Bath party returned to the Spa early on Wednesday morning well satisfied with their efforts to fly the Bath Rugger Flag in Cheshire. Saturday’s game against New Brighton is best forgotten. It was a game where nothing went right for Bath and no player could have felt happy about his performance after the game. However, it speaks well for our boys that they were able to profit by their mistakes and discuss ways and means of doing much better in the remaining games.
On the Monday a changed Bath side defeated a strong Birkenhead Park team and showed the Cheshire crowd that West Country Rugger can be fine entertainment. Tuesday’s game against a strong Sale side was equally exciting and although Bath had a distinct territorial advantage a draw was probably a just result.
Local Grammar schoolboy Geoffrey Frankcom played in all three games and proved to be a most promising player. We look forward to seeing much from him this season.”
(Programme Notes H.J.F.S.) (Alias Jack Simpkins)

It was observed that Geoff Frankcom’s father played Rugby, Cricket and Soccer for Bath.

SNIPPITS
Roger Brown would be out for a week or two, having crushed his fingers in a hanger door!
Mike Jones returned to the 1st XV after some consistent performances in the United.
Mike Lambert played his first game as a married man!
There were four schoolmasters in this day’s side.
There was also – a soldier, a sailor and an airman!
Three Rugby Footballs – LOST – “presumably kicked over the West Stand. Footballs are an expensive item these days, the Secretary will be glad on any news about these lost balls.”
FOUND – In the Clubhouse – a pair of Rugger boots.
EXTRACT FROM PLYMOUTH MATCH PROGRAMME
“The Captain’s Retort”
“With only one win in October I feel as though I am sitting in the office and writing to a client explaining away a £10,000 extra on a building contract- not very pleasant, but a task which must be faced.
When we lost to St. Mary’s Hospital we tended to dismiss our poor performance as ‘one of those days,’ but we can’t do that again and must do something about it.
Unfortunately the games against Metropolitan Police and the Harlequins were each lost through our error of judgement and which you have probably read about, but apart from this we have no excuses and will be going all out today to put matters right, it will be nice to taste victory again and not just sniff at it.”
A.M. (Angus Meek)

THE SKIPPER’S POST PLYMOUTH COMMENT

“The Captain’s Retort”
“Perhaps the least said the better, but a good dose of Castor Oil may do the trick.”
A.M.

MANCOM 8/11/1960
Mr. Harold Crane expressed concern at the team’s indifferent performance, with five 1st XV games lost in succession. Numerous suggestions were tabled; there was additional concern at the number of local players who had left the Club. It was agreed to give the Club Captain every support to improve matters.
At the same meeting it was resolved that all Committee Members were to subscribe 1/- at each meeting, towards the players’ beer fund.

Now, the call was for the players to rally round skipper, Angus Meek. There had been good individual performances, but team support was often lacking. Consequently the play had been in fits and starts.
“The deficiencies were all too blatantly revealed by Plymouth Albion who were able to dominate the match because of their vast superiority and technical ability in the loose phase of forward play.”
v SPRINGBOKS
Peter Parfitt was to be Bath’s sole representative in a combined Somerset and Gloucestershire side to play the Springboks. However, he would be the fifth Bath player to run out against the tourists that season:- Ian Beer and Derek Wardle played in the opening game for Southern Counties. Laurie Rimmer was due to appeared for North Western Counties the following Wednesday, and Paddy McGovan was selected to play for Western Counties in his native Cornwall.
The South Africans subsequently ran riot at Kingsholm, beating Western Counties by 42-0.

FLOODING
On successive days, Dec 4th, 5th, and 6th saw the highest flood in living memory at Bath. The papers reported this to be the worst flood since 1882.
The level of the water was just to the bottom of the George Robert’s clock on the North Stand.
The Club’s amplifying equipment was ruined and there was a membership appeal for contributions towards replacement.
Legend has it, that a couple of former players actually rowed a small boat above the North end cross bar!
The Club later acknowledged the tremendous effort by Mr. Fred Daw and his staff in restoring the Rec. to playing condition. Bath were singularly fortunate that its ‘green sward’ had tremendous powers of recovery. It could be awash one day – and clear to play the next! However, older players will always remember the great muddy patch and dip in level, right in front of the West Stand.
MANCOM 12/1/1961
After a proposition by Mr. J Arnold seconded by Mr. G P Eskell it was resolved that Internationals who came to the Club as such or gained their International Caps whilst playing for Bath F C, should have their names engraved on the board provided. This would therefore not apply to those players who gain a cap after leaving the Club.

Suggestion that the Clubhouse be insured against burglary to be investigated. (A later meeting resolved that the low level of stock kept at the bar, did not justify burglary insurance.)

Mr. F H Ledbury said he thought far too many non members were using the Clubhouse.

MANCOM 13/1/1961
Recreation Ground severely flooded and Committee meeting held No. 5 Bridge Street.
Memorial Fund allocated £30 towards purchase of jerseys for Bath Rugby Combination

Ian Beer demonstrated his keenness to play. At 12-30 he was still teaching at Marlborough; two hours later he took the field. Without stopping for the post match tea, he was off back to Marlborough in time to take Prep!

MANCOM 27/2/1961
Letter from Bristol Club complaining at the serious loss of revenue caused through the televising of International games. Secretary instructed to write, stating that the Bath Club Committee agreed with Bristol’s stance in principle.
“The Captain’s Retort”
Both the first team and the United apologise for causing you any palpitations, loss of hair, or encouraging any form of ill-mannered language during last Saturday’s games against the Bristol teams. We are offering no excuses, but we must learn from our mistakes and Bristol’s enterprising play. We did have our chances and had they been accepted the result would still have been a high scoring game but very much closer. We did have ill luck when John Hawgood attempted a drop goal from fully 40 yards out, which bounced off the top of the post back into play and Bristol taking the advantage to set off in attack whilst our players were in an offside position and instead of our being a further 3 points up, Bristol had reduced their arrears at that stage.
MANCOM 13/3/1961
Walcot RFC to be notified that as would be tenants of the second playing pitch at Lambridge at a rent to be agreed, no promise could be made however that the pitch would be ready for next season.
Application to erect a hut at Lambridge submitted. Request for Go Karting on Lambridge denied.
Committeemen to act as stewards on match days, and a roster to be prepared.
101 UP
Tony Jacob completed 101 games for the 1st XV and Gordon Drewett reached 101 points for the season.
MANCOM 27/3/1961
Complaint from the Editor of the Bath Chronicle, that United players were giving fictitious player names to journalists.