My story 12. Mentors - Oxford University - Alan Jubb (RIP)
Mentorship is a relationship in which a more experienced
or more knowledgeable person helps to guide a less experienced or less
knowledgeable person. The mentor may be older or younger than the person being
mentored, but they must have a certain area of expertise. It is a learning
and development partnership between someone with vast experience and someone
who wants to learn. Interaction with an expert may also be necessary to gain
proficiency with cultural tools. Mentorship experience and relationship
structure affect the "amount of psychosocial support, career guidance,
role modeling and communication that occurs in the mentoring relationships in
which the protégés and mentors engaged". [Wikipedia]
From the moment we arrive on this planet, a mentor is needed. Our parents’ mentor us throughout our early years but Colin is fifteen years old, sixteen in four-weeks’ and …
A mentor, a wise or trusted adviser or guide. The first name that springs to mind is Jimmy Williams, physiotherapist at Featherstone Rover, then, Kenny Everson also at Rovers, they both provided Slam (Colin) with valuable advice, however the one that would shape his life from age 15 to 18, with almost irreversible effect was Alan Jubb.
Alan
came from middle class parents, attended Wakefield Grammar school; first team
fly- half [no 10] and Yorkshire schoolboys. Carnegie College Leeds, the elite sports college of its day, followed. Certificate in education, college first team rugby and a qualified teacher. Falls in love, married, home in Crofton, Near Wakefield. Sandall rugby club, first team again, but Normanton Grammar awaits. A little-known fact, in
addition to his love of golf, was his passion for Rugby League; a Wakefield
Trinity fan and, during his formative years, the best team in the land. They played
a wide expansive game, yet always kept the ball in play. By keeping the ball in
play, the opposition tired and gaps opened.
Alan was also clever entered a team in the prestigious -if you attend an elite private school,- Oxford under 16, seven-aside tournament, the final at Iffley Road sports
grounds, where Roger Banister made history by running the worlds first sub four-minute mile on May 6th 1954.
Sevens ( seven-aside rugby) was a new game to me, Alan
Jubb, a new coach, as the junior teams had other masters, he seemed very stern and focused. We practiced with the first team who, captained by a lad from Featherstone - Steve Trigg- had just won the coveted National Schoolboy 7's at under 19 level, at Roehampton, London, home of Roslyn Park RFC (and home of my first date with Kerry, bonfire night, six years later but also for later). We spent hours, passing the ball to the right,
running backwards after passing the ball, then passing the ball to the left. We
did loop-de-loops, pass, run to the end of the line, catch-pass-run-again, ad
infinitum. Being captain, I thought it wise to enquire as to sirs, ‘Jubby’ as everyone
else called him, motives in this ‘keep ball moving and keep possession boredom’
exercise we keep performing. He replied, “Neil Fox and Wakefield Trinity won
everything using it, so let’s give it a go”. I thought about what he was
saying, Wakefield Trinity also had an incredibly wide pitch, unlike my home
team, Featherstone Rovers, who’s pitch was often likened to a postage stamp,
very apt being in Post Office Road. After another totally exhausting session of
loop-de-loop I summoned enough courage to say to Jubby, ‘Sir, are you saying
you want us to play Rugby league, on the elite sports grounds of Oxford
University whilst conforming to the rules of Rugby Union, and, as there are
only seven of us on the pitch, we can play a wide game. In other words, when
we have the ball, we keep it at all costs, like having a one tackle rule in rugby
league”. He looked at me, smiled and said, “we are staying in a youth hostel,
in Oxford, the night before, so pack a toothbrush. They recon this is the National
under 16 finals, the Welsh teams always win”.
One man went to mow, went to mow a meadow. Seven lads went to Oxford, went to …
There were many less than 3,000, in the Iffley road stadium, the day of our final. As we were briefed on the historical significance of Oxford Universities athletics track, I wondered if seven lads, one substitute Dave Burniston, could also make our mark on the history of Iffley Road.
Llanelli Grammar school, the might of Welsh schools rugby, our opponents. Two years later their club team would beat the mighty All Blacks. A sevens team has three forwards; I am loose head prop, Kevin Rooney (RIP) hooker, and grafter, Larry Hanson, tight head prop stood nonsense from from no-one and four backs; Steve Midgely and Harry Poole our half back duo, Steve Carrington at centre and John (Dicky) Dyson on the wing. Dicky scores in the corner, I miss the conversion. Steve and Harry weave their magic and Kevin scores, I add the conversion. Half time, we lead 8-0. They score, and convert 8-5, I miss tackle, they score and convert, 8-10. The seconds are ticking, we win a scrum, ball along the line; Harry, to Steve to Dicky, who sprints wide to the touchline and stops - he jogs backwards, just a few steps - the ball is now with Steve, Larry loops around him, Harry loops Larry, Kevin loops and spots a gap, but stops -he jogs backwards, just a few steps - I have the ball, sprint wide to the touchline and stop - I jog backwards - Harry, Larry, Steve, Kevin, Steve, Dicky and Kevin scores the winning try.
Om
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