Hats off to Albion Skipper Dan Kemmish

Albion’s captain, Dan Kemmish is set to make his 250th appearance in the 1st XV in Saturday’s rearranged game at Paignton and in doing so will achieve a much coveted club cap.  

Kemmish is in his 10th season with Albion, having learnt his rugby football at Haygrove School before joining Albion Minis and Juniors. However he commenced his senior career with Morganians in 1995/6 before joining North Petherton the following season and remaining there until October 2003 when he joined Albion. He made his debut on 15 November 2003 at Cleve in the RFU Intermediate Cup and has not really looked back since then. A model of consistency and clearly durability, he has rarely missed any of Albion’s matches in this 10-year span and has played in all 24 matches this season to date. 

Kemmish has been involved in the Club’s ups and downs during his Albion career, experiencing the highlights of promotion to National 2 South at the end of the 2004/5 season with the play-off win at Worthing; he much enjoyed the EDF Cup fourth round meeting with Harlequins in the following season when Albion were confronted with the likes of Andrew Mehrtens and Ugo Moyne. More recently, as Albion have suffered two relegations in the last three seasons, Kemmish has been the mainstay of the team, still playing with considerable pride and enthusiasm and galvanising his charges. He is highly respected both within the club and amongst his colleagues and indeed by the opposition.

Dan is a fire-fighter with the Devon and Somerset Fire Service where his cool aplomb, patience and high skills have been developed and he has been able to carry these attributes onto the rugby football field where his quiet efficiency has made him one of the unsung heroes of the club and of the game generally. The quality of his career is highlighted in that he made his 50th appearance against Cinderford in November 2005; his 100th at London Scottish in October 2007 and the 150th against Richmond in September 2009. His 200th appearance on the last day of the 2010/11 season was against Oxford Harlequins when the sides played an extraordinary high scoring 42-42 draw. He is thus making his 250th appearance within two seasons of that match, having missed just one game during that period.

Kemmish’s immediate task is to gather his side for this vital match at Paignton and to produce the victories which are required to secure Albion’s place in South West 1 West for next season. With only one home match to play against Clevedon on 13 April, Albion will need to be on their mettle to pick up the required wins, but rest assured Kemmish will always be to the fore.

Category: 1st XV News, Club News