1974-1975 ANECDOTES

1974-1975 ANECDOTES
CHRIS PERRY
It could be quipped that Chris Perry was a wing-forward-turned-scrum-half-turned centre-turned full-back-turned scrum-half-again. Indeed, Perry was an all-round sportsman, playing cricket for Bath and Lansdown, and Somerset and Gloucestershire 2nd XI’s. He was a popular choice for the players. (Adapted from Chronicle report)

C J (Chris) Perry, was appointed Captain for the coming season. He was born in 1948 at Harpenden, Herts. and moved to Bath in 1958. An Oldfield Schoolboy (1960-1965), he represented Bath Boys. Later, he won a sport’s scholarship to Millfield, converting from fly-half to open-side wing forward. He was privileged to play alongside such budding luminaries as Gareth Edwards, J P R Williams and Vaughan Williams (later Bath). Upon leaving in 1967, he joined Oldfield Old Boys and a year later was asked to join the Bath club. He played 20 games for the 1st XV, as back-up for Phil Hall, but due to his lack of weight and height, it was suggested that he move to outside the scrum. (Ht. 5’8” Weight 11st. 2lbs). He played a full season at centre before another change of position – this time as scrum-half to partner John Horton for Club and County. During a season of captaincy (1974-75), he played the majority of games at full-back, as Jim Waterman had returned from Oxford University. His `last 1st XV game was in 1981. He also captained Bath Spartans (1979-1982) and between 1982 and 1992 was assistant fixture secretary for the Spartans and Youth XV’s
An all-round sportsman, he played cricket for Bath 1st XI at 15, also Lansdown, and Imperial, and for Somerset at Under 15, 19, 25 and 2nd XI levels; he also turned out for Gloucestershire 2nd XI as opening batsman. It was his prowess at cricket, which led to the scholarship at Millfield, where he opened the batting for three seasons. He also captained the school football 1st XI and represented Somerset Schoolboys.

29/6/1974
SUMMER RAVE
Bay City Rollers and The Troggs performed on the Rec. to raise funds for the German Tour. Committeeman Les Newton – Promoter. Just over £150 was raised.
There was a Civic letter of complaint regarding “excessive noise.” Nevertheless, the event was hugely popular with the younger element.

MAJOR FUND RAISING EFFORT
Joint Treasurer Les Newton reported tremendous effort in raising funds towards provision of Floodlights. They were expected to be operational by November at a cost of £10,500. Improvements to the Clubhouse were anticipated before the end of 1974 at a projected cost of around £14,000.
The Club was still paying off the residue of a £11,000 bill for modernisation of the changing rooms. It was estimated that around £30,000 would be needed to clear all projects.
Pledges of Donations and Interest Free Loans had been received from many prominent Committeemen and Members. By the next meeting, £3944 was in hand and £3000 more promised.
President, Mr George Brown was the driving force involved with Fund Raising from the start.
Messrs M Jeffrey and H Bradford were responsible for approaches to local businesses for loans or donations. Agreed, David Jenkins to be approached to become United Team Secretary.

News that veteran Phil Hall was shaping up for the new season. After appearing in 523 1st XV matches, he preferred to be labelled as “over 30.” He felt he should give new skipper Perry, time and space to organise affairs his way. He was still involved with harvesting on his Tormartin Farm and would soon be available to play at any level.
Extract GUARDIAN 1/10/74
A touch of KO farce
“But Bath’s opponents as a result of Saturday’s victory are none other than Bath themselves for at the annual meeting of the RFU in July, they were included in the draw as a nominated club, which presumably means that Bath earn themselves a bye into the second round.” (Not so – they had to play Falmouth again 16th November!)

MANCOM 30/9/74
Mr Roberts reported a falling off- of Fund-Raising responses. Mr. George Brown kindly agreed to tide the Club over, when demand for stage payments were received. The Old Players Association agreed to organise a Draw in aid of the ‘Floodlight Fund.’
FLOODLIGHTS
Bath were looking forward to the big ‘switch-on’ of their new floodlights for the Royal Navy fixture. The lights had cost £10,500, but it was felt that this could be recouped by an increase in gates at mid-week evening matches.

A WET ONE!
JOHN STEVEN’S COMMENT in Saturday’s SPORTS CHRONICLE: “Bath came closer to death by drowning or freezing than they did to defeat in what could have passed for unarmed arctic warfare at Cheltenham last night.
Somewhere along the line, they must have included a survival course in their training schedule, for they lasted the full 80 minutes before going to the beckoning comfort of the dressing rooms warmed by a richly deserved winning try just before the end, it was, needless to say, not so much a rugby match more a rather ungainly mud ballet in the worst possible conditions.
Rain and sleet lashed down on to a waterlogged pitch throughout and as the players splashed about it quickly came to resemble a paddy field.”
All 30 players, referee, touch-judges, bucket boys and spectators, not to mention reporters, deserved highest praise for ‘sticking it out ‘ to the bitter end.
Not so bitter for Bath, as two minutes from time, Lye seized on a loose ball, hacked on and pounced – to secure the precious four points.
MANCOM 3/3/75
Programmes had been selling at a loss, so price increased to 10p.

Tom Smith, Club Treasurer, reported that Bar takings exceeded £1000 for the first time for one match. It did not quite make up for losing! It was the first time Bath had reached the quarter final stage in a national cup competition, and it was to be the 1979/80 season before Bath could equal this success.
The weather conditions promised to be ideal for Bath’s expansive game, but unfortunately the heavens opened up two hours before the kick-off, leaving the pitch flooded. Bath missed a number of chances and excellent penalty kicking by the visiting full-back, Brian Keenleyside, gave Morpeth a lead which they held to the end. John Davies scored three penalties for Bath. Although they tried desperately, Bath could not penetrate the northerners’ rock hard defence.
“It was a bitter blow to club pride not to mention to their hopes and everyone, players, officials and supporters feel a sickening sense of anti-climax.” The Club looked to salvage some pride in the Somerset Cup Semi Final.
MANCOM 7/4/75
Disappointment that so many Bath players had cried off from the German Tour due to commence on 26th April. Only seven First Team players had made themselves available Not withstanding this, it was agreed to carry on.

LLOYD’S LEG BREAK
Malcolm Lloyd returned after a long absence – only to fracture his leg five minutes from time. It was a sad repeat of a previous break, same leg, against the same team some fifteen months previously.
It was a major setback for this plucky player. He had given Jacko Page a tough afternoon at the base of the scrum and it was a scant ‘reward’ for his effort.
The first half had been scoreless and then two mistakes were gratefully snapped up by Northampton’s right winger, Peter Bignell. Chris Perry had the misfortune to misjudge the flight of an ‘up and under,’ and the tiny Saint’s winger leapt high in the air, took the ball one-handed and sprinted 35 yards to the line. Twenty minutes later, Bath were in process of a counter attack, when John Davies’s punt went straight to Bignell, who once again showed the Bath defence a clean pair of heels. Paul Carter converted both. Davies kicked a consolation penalty, and Carter wound up the scoring with a gigantic 48-yard penalty in the 66th minute.
It was Prior Park Schoolboy, John Palmer’s, also Steve Donovan’s first game.

:FACILITIES ARE NOW SECOND TO NONE.

George Brown, in his second year of Presidency and John Roberts, Chairman, had been a driving force for a major and expensive facelift of Club facilities.
In less than two years Bath had modernised their changing rooms, installed floodlights and commenced an elaborate clubhouse renovation.

George Brown had been largely instrumental in generating fund-raising schemes, which had gone a long way towards paying for the improvements, at an estimated cost of £30,000.
The changing room upgrade, completed during the previous season, had cost £10,500, all of which had been paid. A further £10,500 had already been raised to pay for the floodlighting. A start had been made to raise £12,000 to complete the clubhouse by the start of the new season.
There had been an exceedingly good response for the request for interest free loans. George Brown’s period of Presidency had been one of the most positive terms in the Club’s long history. Among his achievements, he had helped to heal breaches between players and management, so that all parties were pulling in the same direction.
The same could be said of skipper, Chris Perry, whose enthusiasm had never waned and who took on all sorts of responsibilities above and beyond the call of duty.
SUMMING UP BY JOHN STEVENS, SPORTS EDITOR, BATH CHRONICLE
“A season of considerable achievement with a notable double over Bristol and victories over Gloucester, Leicester, Saracens, Wasps, Harlequins and Llanelli. However, the two of the most memorable games were the marvellous encounters with London Welsh and the equally pulsating match with Newport both of which Bath won. Newport will not want to recall how their much vaunted pack was systematically torn apart by the Bath forwards and their defence torn apart by John Horton. Horton’s inability to impress English selectors reminded one of the mysteries of the season. Bath’s away win over Liverpool in John Player Cup was a great tactical success, but was overshadowed by the shock defeat by Morpeth in the Quarter Finals.”

EPITAPH ON A SEASON

“At their best they were very good;
at their worst they were very bad indeed
with their fortunes reaching rock bottom
with a 49-4 defeat at London Scottish in December.”

AGM APOLOGY

Mr Perry was not available to report. – he was on his honeymoon