Difficult Times for Rugby

The introduction of the league system and professionalism made life difficult for many rugby clubs and several of our North Midland friends, Centrals and Witton, Birmingham and Solihull, City Officials and Birmingham Welsh were forced to merge.  Old Moseleians sad decision to break up in 1996 gave us several valuable new recruits.

The introduction of a Presidents Day event each May retained some of the old comradeship between clubs when our Colts, Veterans and First XV play against invitation teams containing good friends from teams like Aston Old Edwardians, Camp Hill, Edwardians, Dixonians, Old Halesonians, Wolverhampton and Kynoch.

Off the Pitch

The introduction of Richard Walker as Chairman in 1996 not only gave us a good man at the helm but superb post-match meals when his wife Eve, an excellent cook, and Wendy Lewins took on the job in the kitchen.  Wendys husband Ed combined the Club Treasurers job with the task of serving behind the bar.

Another great asset Brian Hope, already having a strong interest in the club with his son Marcus, retired from work and transferred his considerable energy to help out various ways including carpeting the First XV changing room. Mary Bucknell took on the post of Press Secretary ensuring good coverage in the local news and interesting programmes for home league fixtures.

The Intermediate Cup

In 1997 the RFU introduced the Intermediate Cup for clubs at levels five to eight.  Our league was the lowest for qualification so opposition was always going to be very strong.  However, we did achieve some notable wins, Bedworth in 98/99 and Longton in 99/00.

The Annual Dinner had been held in the clubhouse since it was built but it was always a little crowded. In 1997 it was decided to try The Regency Hotel in Solihull with Bob Dwyer the Leicester and Australian coach as the main speaker.

Mini and Vets Rugby

A mini-rugby team of under 8s organised by Ian Hughes played their first match away to Redditch on Sunday the 30th of November 1997.

In 1998-99, the Fourth XV were sponsored by Gloria McConnell from the Old Crown public house in Digbeth.

The team, containing a smattering of spindly youth mixed with equally diminutive veterans such as Dave Jenkins, Jan Ullah, Steve Painter, Dave Adams, Ken Collins, Tony Fagan and Bob Anderson, were provided with a set of shirts size fifty inch chest, each  emblazoned with a very large crown across the front, undoubtedly one of the biggest logos ever seen.