MIKE BERRY – 50 YEARS

MIKE BERRY – 50 YEARS

I wish to sincerely thank everyone who attended my celebration dinner on 25 April for making it into such a memorable occasion.  We were regaled by the excellent speeches from Father Mike Derrick and of course Gareth Edwards whose attention to everyone who spoke to him afterwards was commendable and he stayed around for a long time.  I also thoroughly enjoyed talking with Gareth through the dinner. 

I am extremely indebted to the Club for firstly promoting the dinner and in particular for the efforts of Emma Kemmish and Mike Sampson and Steve Smith and all the many helpers who set up the room so splendidly.  It just shows what we can do.  In addition the catering provided by Pat and Alan Williams and the bar arrangements were also first class. 

I will never forget these crowning moments of my career – the last match and subsequent celebrations were somewhat emotional and poignant and this dinner has certainly capped it all and made the 50 years well worthwhile.  I will never forget my playing time with the club and hope that my efforts may have inspired others to also enjoy long careers with the club. 

I will certainly be in attendance as regularly as possible next season and those beyond – all that is changing is that I will not be in playing kit on a Saturday afternoon but I am hoping to follow our teams, selecting appropriate fixtures and venues.  The camaraderie and spirit in the club is excellent at present and I hope that is maintained – obviously playing success highlights this but we have a splendid mix at present and can only go forward. 

I hope that the club will allow me to attach my heartfelt sentiments recorded in my article in the brochure from the dinner together with my playing statistics.

Thank you once again.

Best wishes,

Mike Berry

MICHAEL RICHARD BERRY

BORN 20 DECEMBER 1947 – TAUNTON!

OVERALL PLAYING RECORD 1965-2015 (UP TO 17.4.2015)

XV                                                                   P                     W                      D                       L                       F                      A

Colts                                                              29                    10                       1                     18                  234                  420

1^st                                                                 347                  161                     19                  167                3890                4131

United (2^nd XV)                                         433                  216                     10                  207                5430                4502

Athletic (3^rd XV Dirtrackers)                   661                  308                     20                  333             12587              13754

Combined XV                                               7                       2                        –                       5                    49                  120

Tours XV                                                      12                       7                        –                       5                  380                  152

Club/Veterans XV                                    106                    62                     10                     34                2089                1397

                                                                     ___                  ___                  ___                  ___                  ___                  ___

                                                                  1595                  766                     60                  769             24639              24476

                                                                     ___                  ___                  ___                  ___                  ___                  ___

OVERALL SCORING RECORD

LANDMARKS

M R BERRY – APPEARANCES

THE FULL RECORD

MIKE BERRY

BRIDGWATER & ALBION RFC PLAYING CAREER

17 APRIL 1965 – 18 APRIL 2015 

PRESIDENT BOWS OUT IN FINAL APPEARANCE

Last Saturday was a special and memorable day for me as a full game in the Dirtrackers XV against Somerton marked the exact 50^th anniversary of my debut in the Colts XV at Cardiff in April 1965 and my last intended appearance in my beloved red, amber and black.  The game was a rousing and cracking encounter in which Somerton played their full part and was a fitting if somewhat emotional way to close down a long career.

I have been proud to have represented the Club at all levels over the 50 years in particular to maintain a consistent overall playing and scoring record throughout as set out with these notes.  The most significant feature is I think the fact that I have averaged a shade under 32 games per season throughout the 50 year period.  It has been a real test of durability but that only acknowledges my own dedicated approach through training and availability to achieve precisely that.  I had already celebrated extensively my 1000^th and 1500^th appearances for the club with special matches and I was delighted when the Club indicated that it wished to honour my career with this special dinner being held this evening.  We have a full house comprising supporters, former players, family members, colleagues from my firm and other Rugby Football associates.  I am sure that a memorable evening is assured with Gareth Edwards as my guest speaker together with our own Father Michael Derrick who has been a colleague of mine from those Colts days.

My playing record shows the pyramid effect which I will tentatively suggest a lot of today’s 1^st XV players could adopt.  That is to say you come in at the bottom gradually (quickly in my case) go up the line and come back down – both from time to time and of course ultimately.  In other words aim for the top – stay as long as you can and when you have done your bit there lend your experience down the line to others who are coming up and overtaking you.  Keep that going and to inspire them to progress themselves and to find their way in the game.  Eventually being looked after by our younger players who help you to see out the vestiges of such a long career.  That is certainly what the team did last Saturday in ensuring a tremendous send off. 

When I made my debut back in April 1965 I had no idea what to expect then or indeed the next week let alone the next season and those after it.  However I liked what I saw on that first day and decided to stick after using up my spare Colts year and then moving into the senior ranks.  My record shows a net 3 games deficit but in my eyes that represents the true essence and spirit of games – some you win and some you lose.  You always go out to win but someone somewhere will be better than you sometimes. 

It has been a lot of fun and I certainly would not of missed it for the world – the curtain comes down on a long and industrious career.  I could not of done this alone and so am very grateful to all those who have assisted me in many capacities from the school masters and coaches who have honed my game; to the considerable number of players with whom I have played at all levels; to the similar considerable number of opponents whom I have encountered; the friendships both within the Club and amongst my opponents have lasted for a long time and I hope will continue to do so forever; to the many referees who have officiated in my games – I have always had a great rapport with them; to all concerned at the Club in preparing the way for games to be played – groundsmen, those who look after the playing kit, ladies serving tea, bar staff, committees and even selectors who have allowed me to play.  Our supporters who are the best in the game have always made the effort of playing and hopefully well worthwhile. 

As you can see from my record I have played 661 times in the Dirtrackers – 3^rd XV and undoubtedly the majority of them have been in company with the team manager Jack Smith.  Jack will not mind me saying that he is approaching 85 and has been with the Club for 65 years and actually appeared in the first ever 3^rd XV side.  I cherish this long relationship and will look forward in accompanying Jack on a few outings around various games in the seasons to come.

All that will be happening in the future is that I will simply not be in playing kit on a Saturday afternoon.  Training will continue and I love the buzz of a training night although I assiduously undertake my own programme; Saturdays will be spent in my capacity as President (subject to re-election of course) watching all of our sides and who knows perhaps even running the line on some occasions.  Unusually I will be spending several weeks at the Rugby World Cup in September and October – to date I have always preferred playing to watching and I am presuming that it is unlikely that another World Cup will be played in England in my lifetime.

I am overwhelmed at the prospective attendance here this evening and delighted by the fact that people from all walks of my life will be here.  I entered the Accounting and Tax profession at the end of the summer following my debut here and I have been ensconced in Maxwells Chartered Accountants for almost 42 years.  I have also been connected with Somerset County RFU for the last 22 years and have had a very enjoyable time – spending the last 12 years as Honorary Treasurer.

I have been proud to represent Bridgwater & Albion as its President for the last 16 years and whilst I do not get involved in the day to day operation of the Club I hope that my leadership in terms of dedication to playing may have been an inspiration to others.  I was also delighted to be President of the County Union between 2005 and 2007. 

Gareth Edwards was the doyen of scrumhalves and indeed Rugby Footballers during his era with Cardiff, Wales, British Lions and Barbarians and I am honoured that he has accepted the invitation to speak at this celebration for a fellow humble No 9.  Father Mike has known me throughout the 50 years and I am pleased that he is able to regale you with tales of my Rugby Football upbringing.

Emma Kemmish, Mike Sampson and Steve Smith have all worked very hard to arrange tonights dinner and I thank them sincerely for their considerable efforts.  Thanks also to the catering of Pat and Alan Williams and to the bar manager and staff.

As I will state when I speak tonight it is my view that any Club is always bigger than the man.  Bridgwater and Albion was in existence some 90 years before I joined it; I have been here for the last 50; I certainly hope that the Club will continue to prosper in the next 90 years and beyond.

COME ON BOYS ONE MORE APPEARANCE – LETS GO OUT THERE AND GIVE IT A GO.

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