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Chapter 27
“Saints through and through”
I read a great deal now about former sportsman experiencing withdrawal symptoms once they finish playing sport. I feel very lucky to have played rugby when I did, in the very early stages of professionalism, where sport was just part of our day to day being.
The euphoria of the crowd quickly goes, and you soon realise that you are just journeying through a club that has a rich history and I felt fortunate enough to play and be friends for life with an extra ordinary group of men. All we were doing were holding a baton for future generations, and no one had a divine right to think otherwise.
Reaching 50 is a milestone in anyone’s life but to celebrate with former teammates was such a joy. I have purposely not included a huge amount of sporting Brilliant Minds in this book. However, I wanted to make special mention to this group of merry men. Each of them played for the British and Irish Lions, the ultimate accolade for rugby players and everyone of them, did not rest on their laurels and went on to become accomplished individuals.
By Harvey Thorneycroft
Chapter 27: “Saints through and through”
In 1987, my life changed forever and for over 13 years, I was lucky enough to be surrounded by high performing individuals at Northampton Saints.
My selection to play for the Saints was low key. The fixture secretary at the time, the legendary RB Taylor, invited me to play after Northampton had just lost to Llanelli on 5th December 1987. Bob was a former England and British Lions rugby player and a legend from Northampton’s rich rugby past. He was an uncompromising flanker who captained England in one of his 16 caps. “Piggy” Powell, a former Saints coach, captain, England, and Lions Player, had seen me playing for the youth team and mentioned to him that I was worth a punt. I was totally unaware of the pedigree of both these men. Bob wasn’t a man of words and cut to the chase immediately, “We were wondering whether you might like to play for the 1st XV next Saturday as Frank Packman got injured today.” I thanked him and duly accepted and then proceeded to get drunk which was the way in those days – “win or lose on the booze”.
Paul Larkin, my fly-half, walked me onto Franklin’s Gardens before the game. This was just a time-honoured tradition that a senior player would walk you on to the pitch before your first ever game for the club and he would later go on to be the Club Coach in the year I left Northampton Saints in 2001. In 1987, support for the club was still strong despite dwindling fan numbers. The club was amateur in every way. Off the field, it was run by former players who cared deeply about their club but were simultaneously holding down careers and caring for families.
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