Back
DELVING BACK 6
Stuart Vernon20 Aug 2020 - 09:18
The 2002/03 league season contained all the nuances of classic opera beginning with a stirring overture.
The early seasons of the “noughties” proved to be a nightmare for Vale as they began to plummet through the leagues without being able to either locate or firmly grasp the rip cord. At the end of the 1990/91 season their tenure in National Division 3 came to end, the following season they were still in free fall having dropped through the hatch of Division 4 North; some solace did come courtesy of defeating Widnes in the final of the Lancashire Cup 12-6.
Two seasons were then spent in Division 1 North before a landing zone was found in Division 2 North for the start of the 1994/95 season. At last Vale found some solid ground, they were able cast off the parachute and harness, start to dig-in, consolidate their position, bring in reinforcements, re-focus, restore some confidence and find a measure of stability. Initially their fortunes fluctuated, in 1996/97 all fixtures were home and away, but to huge relief all round, the rot had been stopped and along with it an infectious losing mentality.
There was one more change in the offing because for the start 2000/01 season the North was divided into West and East divisions, which obviously reduced the travelling costs but did mean the severing of some friendly links in the North East, many which had been built up over the long arches of time. This geographical split appeared to suit Vale who in the first season of the new format finished 4th, the following season they were runners up, but lost their play-off game at Huddersfield, 26-10.
However, the champagne was uncorked with a vengeance to celebrate being crowned champions at the conclusion of the 2002/03 season. It had been a long winding road since April 1991 when Vale dropped out of National Division 3 but all the heartaches were forgotten, tears of joy replaced those of sadness as frowns and furrowed brows were turned into smiles.
Former Vale favourite and a larger than life character with not only a passion for the game but for the arts, particularly music and painting, Vale quickly fell under the spell of Mark Nelson, who had been appointed in mid-September 2001 to replace Graham Smith.
He brought into the role his own style of management and vision, which quickly became apparent on match days and training nights. Mark always wears his heart on one sleeve and the Red Rose of Lancashire on the other; he is a respecter of tradition and is also a modern thinker. He has been known to express rather forthright views, to Mark a spade is still in essence a spade, but he has a deep love and affection for the game that has given him so much pleasure and success.
Mark is very capable of erupting like Vesuvius and when he does it can be quite spectacular but on match days he was totally absorbed in the events as they unfolded. Observing him on the touchline was pure theatre; without a doubt his characteristics can be found in the works of William Shakespeare and not just as a walk on part or third tree on the right.
His total dedication and loyalty to the Vale emerged when the final whistle blew at the end of the fixture at Altrincham Kersal in November 2002. Emotions were running high after young Jimmy Moore had kicked the winning penalty from the half way line in the sixth minute of injury time to secure a 13-12 victory.
While the players went through their warm down routines delirious Vale supporters formed a tunnel outside the changing rooms and warmly applauded their heroes. Before the supporters could disperse, a smiling Mark Nelson rounded them all up and ushered them into the “holy of holies,” Vale’s changing room. He called the players to attention to face the supporters and in an impassioned few words he said that these were the people they were playing for. This was typical of Mark and it left a lasting impression on those who were there and as the supporters made their way to bar for a celebratory drink, a tear was surreptitiously wiped away on some faces.
During the 2001/02 season he had obviously assessed the strengths and weaknesses of the squad and as a coach he worked the players hard to improve their skills and fitness levels. Ahead of the 2002/03 season four warm up games had been scheduled all at home with the first three resulting in defeats; West of Scotland, 26-21, Preston Grasshoppers, 26-8, Sale Jets, 45-12, and in the final game a victory against BAE Barrow, 81-0. A total of 38 players were put through their paces in preparation for the opening North Two West game at home against Stockport, who had finished in third place the previous season.
The squad selected for the Stockport fixture contained eight players, marked with an asterisk, who had played against Huddersfield: 15 Ian Brookes, 14 Neil Latham*, 13 Andy Armitstead*, 12 Ian Bird (Capt)*, 11 James Bryan; 10 Neil Bennetts*, 9 Alex Pye; 1 Phil Jackson, 2 Andrew Sutcliffe, 3 Peter Huck*, 4 Andy Sheard*, 5 John Bowskill; 6 Simon Baines*, 7 James Hoyle, 8 Malcolm Fowler. 16 David Dodd, 17 Ben Fischer*, 18 Kit Rickerby
Of course there were familiar names but for those who had attended the warm up games they could not fail to notice Ian Brookes, who played in all the games, he had pace and scored a try against BAE Barrow, but as the season developed he made his presence felt and ended the season with 17 tries, including two hat tricks. He was an intelligent, elusive brave bolter, who despite his lack of poundage and inches was quite capable of causing mayhem when he cut loose; as he was to prove as the season unfolded.
Flanker James Hoyle had made only half a dozen first team appearances, but had already made a claim for a permanent place in the back row, unfortunately after a dynamic all action performance against Stockport he discovered the following day, after a painful night and a visit to accident and emergency, he had fractured a bone in his leg. James’s season was over before it had begun, he did not return to first team rugby until October 2003 in a North One fixture against Sheffield. However, there was no shortage of back row players in Vale’s stable and they were a number already pawing at the ground for a slice of the action.
A couple of the younger players, threequarters Alex Pye and David Dodd, both played their part in Vale’s 11-6 victory, where both sides went hammer and tongs from the whistle. There was no easing of limbs, it was full bore, not only stirred but shaken. The combatants must have been on diets of raw meat and nettle smoothies as the early abrasive exchanges produce gasps from the spectators.
Neil Bennetts was given the honour of leading the teams out in what was to be his final games of the season prior to his departure to Australia and he was quickly in the thick of the action. After six minutes of constant Vale pressure and some heroic defending from Stockport the deadlock was broken when lock Andy Sheard was propelled over the line by a squadron of his forwards for a unconverted try.
Five minutes later Neil Latham kicked a penalty goal to confirm the perfect start but Stockport gathered their resources regrouped and went foraging for points. Solid defending denied Stockport until the thirty third minute when their stand-off kicked a penalty but Vale ended the half on a high when Alex Pye and James Bryan almost broke through with a combined flourish.
Neil Latham kicked a penalty in the forty ninth minute followed three minutes later with a second successful Stockport penalty. There was still an awful long way to go in a game that showed no signs of turning down the thermostat. Overall the defences were on top, it was absorbing to watch, one mistake could open the floodgates and all the players were aware of it.
Tackles came flying in, all stood firm as the atmosphere reached fever pitch at times and it came as no real surprise in the heat of battle Simon Baines was led to the naughty step as the contest neared its climax but he returned in time to help secure victory. On such an emotional day for Vale’s number ten it was fitting that when he received the nod from referee John Large that time was up that Neil had the last word, or more literally the boot, when he thumped the ball dead before nipping off to pack his tucker bag.
The victory against Stockport, which was an omen for the coming campaign, was Vale’s first win in their opening league since the 1999/2000 season when they won at Aldwinians, 20-15. It had been an auspicious start to the season in testing circumstances but as Edward Burke warned, “you can never plan the future by past events,” something that Vale discovered on their voyage to the title because it was not all plain sailing.
Two seasons were then spent in Division 1 North before a landing zone was found in Division 2 North for the start of the 1994/95 season. At last Vale found some solid ground, they were able cast off the parachute and harness, start to dig-in, consolidate their position, bring in reinforcements, re-focus, restore some confidence and find a measure of stability. Initially their fortunes fluctuated, in 1996/97 all fixtures were home and away, but to huge relief all round, the rot had been stopped and along with it an infectious losing mentality.
There was one more change in the offing because for the start 2000/01 season the North was divided into West and East divisions, which obviously reduced the travelling costs but did mean the severing of some friendly links in the North East, many which had been built up over the long arches of time. This geographical split appeared to suit Vale who in the first season of the new format finished 4th, the following season they were runners up, but lost their play-off game at Huddersfield, 26-10.
However, the champagne was uncorked with a vengeance to celebrate being crowned champions at the conclusion of the 2002/03 season. It had been a long winding road since April 1991 when Vale dropped out of National Division 3 but all the heartaches were forgotten, tears of joy replaced those of sadness as frowns and furrowed brows were turned into smiles.
Former Vale favourite and a larger than life character with not only a passion for the game but for the arts, particularly music and painting, Vale quickly fell under the spell of Mark Nelson, who had been appointed in mid-September 2001 to replace Graham Smith.
He brought into the role his own style of management and vision, which quickly became apparent on match days and training nights. Mark always wears his heart on one sleeve and the Red Rose of Lancashire on the other; he is a respecter of tradition and is also a modern thinker. He has been known to express rather forthright views, to Mark a spade is still in essence a spade, but he has a deep love and affection for the game that has given him so much pleasure and success.
Mark is very capable of erupting like Vesuvius and when he does it can be quite spectacular but on match days he was totally absorbed in the events as they unfolded. Observing him on the touchline was pure theatre; without a doubt his characteristics can be found in the works of William Shakespeare and not just as a walk on part or third tree on the right.
His total dedication and loyalty to the Vale emerged when the final whistle blew at the end of the fixture at Altrincham Kersal in November 2002. Emotions were running high after young Jimmy Moore had kicked the winning penalty from the half way line in the sixth minute of injury time to secure a 13-12 victory.
While the players went through their warm down routines delirious Vale supporters formed a tunnel outside the changing rooms and warmly applauded their heroes. Before the supporters could disperse, a smiling Mark Nelson rounded them all up and ushered them into the “holy of holies,” Vale’s changing room. He called the players to attention to face the supporters and in an impassioned few words he said that these were the people they were playing for. This was typical of Mark and it left a lasting impression on those who were there and as the supporters made their way to bar for a celebratory drink, a tear was surreptitiously wiped away on some faces.
During the 2001/02 season he had obviously assessed the strengths and weaknesses of the squad and as a coach he worked the players hard to improve their skills and fitness levels. Ahead of the 2002/03 season four warm up games had been scheduled all at home with the first three resulting in defeats; West of Scotland, 26-21, Preston Grasshoppers, 26-8, Sale Jets, 45-12, and in the final game a victory against BAE Barrow, 81-0. A total of 38 players were put through their paces in preparation for the opening North Two West game at home against Stockport, who had finished in third place the previous season.
The squad selected for the Stockport fixture contained eight players, marked with an asterisk, who had played against Huddersfield: 15 Ian Brookes, 14 Neil Latham*, 13 Andy Armitstead*, 12 Ian Bird (Capt)*, 11 James Bryan; 10 Neil Bennetts*, 9 Alex Pye; 1 Phil Jackson, 2 Andrew Sutcliffe, 3 Peter Huck*, 4 Andy Sheard*, 5 John Bowskill; 6 Simon Baines*, 7 James Hoyle, 8 Malcolm Fowler. 16 David Dodd, 17 Ben Fischer*, 18 Kit Rickerby
Of course there were familiar names but for those who had attended the warm up games they could not fail to notice Ian Brookes, who played in all the games, he had pace and scored a try against BAE Barrow, but as the season developed he made his presence felt and ended the season with 17 tries, including two hat tricks. He was an intelligent, elusive brave bolter, who despite his lack of poundage and inches was quite capable of causing mayhem when he cut loose; as he was to prove as the season unfolded.
Flanker James Hoyle had made only half a dozen first team appearances, but had already made a claim for a permanent place in the back row, unfortunately after a dynamic all action performance against Stockport he discovered the following day, after a painful night and a visit to accident and emergency, he had fractured a bone in his leg. James’s season was over before it had begun, he did not return to first team rugby until October 2003 in a North One fixture against Sheffield. However, there was no shortage of back row players in Vale’s stable and they were a number already pawing at the ground for a slice of the action.
A couple of the younger players, threequarters Alex Pye and David Dodd, both played their part in Vale’s 11-6 victory, where both sides went hammer and tongs from the whistle. There was no easing of limbs, it was full bore, not only stirred but shaken. The combatants must have been on diets of raw meat and nettle smoothies as the early abrasive exchanges produce gasps from the spectators.
Neil Bennetts was given the honour of leading the teams out in what was to be his final games of the season prior to his departure to Australia and he was quickly in the thick of the action. After six minutes of constant Vale pressure and some heroic defending from Stockport the deadlock was broken when lock Andy Sheard was propelled over the line by a squadron of his forwards for a unconverted try.
Five minutes later Neil Latham kicked a penalty goal to confirm the perfect start but Stockport gathered their resources regrouped and went foraging for points. Solid defending denied Stockport until the thirty third minute when their stand-off kicked a penalty but Vale ended the half on a high when Alex Pye and James Bryan almost broke through with a combined flourish.
Neil Latham kicked a penalty in the forty ninth minute followed three minutes later with a second successful Stockport penalty. There was still an awful long way to go in a game that showed no signs of turning down the thermostat. Overall the defences were on top, it was absorbing to watch, one mistake could open the floodgates and all the players were aware of it.
Tackles came flying in, all stood firm as the atmosphere reached fever pitch at times and it came as no real surprise in the heat of battle Simon Baines was led to the naughty step as the contest neared its climax but he returned in time to help secure victory. On such an emotional day for Vale’s number ten it was fitting that when he received the nod from referee John Large that time was up that Neil had the last word, or more literally the boot, when he thumped the ball dead before nipping off to pack his tucker bag.
The victory against Stockport, which was an omen for the coming campaign, was Vale’s first win in their opening league since the 1999/2000 season when they won at Aldwinians, 20-15. It had been an auspicious start to the season in testing circumstances but as Edward Burke warned, “you can never plan the future by past events,” something that Vale discovered on their voyage to the title because it was not all plain sailing.
Further reading