Made in Britain - Part 2

Following on from yesterdays blog, I now attach a picture of me in my sporting prime - whenever that was.

 

This picture would have been taken about 1990, and I am standing second in from the left hand side.  The team was Oxted Rugby Club, and this is the second team photo.

 

 

 



Those observant among you will have noticed that there are only 14 of us, whereas a Rugby Union side will normally have 15.  It wasn't unusual for us to turn up a man short, or for someone to join in half way through the game, having arrived late.

 

These were good times, with many a Saturday afternoon - and the occasional Sunday morning - spent plodding round a pitch all in the name of sport.

 

Sport isn't all about the physical effort, but also has a huge social impact as well.  By and large, the guys at the club were good friends, and we could share a drink and a laugh after a game.

 

My doctors were always surprised that I could compete at such a tough, physical game, and were constantly warning me of the risks I was putting myself at of a serious injury, or possible broken bone.  I enjoyed it too much to really listen.

 

Eventually, I gave up, not really because of injury or that it was becoming too much effort, but really due to the demands of my career, and the time I was spending at work.

 

I often say that giving up Rugby was a bad decision, as I never replaced that hard physical workout.  I used to play golf, but that's hardly the same.

 

I don't know if the two things are related, but shortly after stopping playing Rugby, I began to find that the weakness was creeping back, and things were starting to become an effort again.  It might be a coincidence, but I do feel that if I had continued playing for another couple of years, then maybe I could have had more time before getting in the wheelchair. 

 

As I have said before a lot of my best memories are connected with sport, and particularly with supporting my football team, Crystal Palace.  They are my local club, and the first team I ever went to see live, at about the age of 12 or 13.  I was hooked after just one game.  Not by the skill and dazzling play, but by the atmosphere at a full football stadium.  Although you can no longer enjoy a game standing on the terraces at most grounds, there is still something about the atmosphere at a game of football that is hard to beat.

 

Sadly now being in a wheelchair, it is difficult to get to games, and even more difficult to find grounds that adequately cater for disabled supporters.  At most grounds, wheelchair users are pushed out of the way, with a poor view of the game.  Most grounds don't even cater for away fans who are disabled.  And the facilities at most grounds for toilets - which for able-bodied people are fairly primitive - are non-existent for the disabled.

 

And this is the same for most sports venues.

 

I watch lots of sport on TV now, and get great enjoyment from that, but just occasionally I'd like to be able to go to a game.