Friday Feeling – 24th September 2021

Tomorrow Caldy embark on their first visit of the season to the capital to play Blackheath FC or ‘Club’ as they are referred to by their supporters. 

This short but commanding nickname flows from Blackheath being the oldest open rugby club in the world having been established in 1858 by the old boys of Blackheath Proprietary school. When Blackheath FC played the school, supporters would shout for either ‘Club’ or ‘School’ and Blackheath supporters have stuck with this moniker for the last 163 years.

Club’s venerable status in the history of English rugby is embellished by some of their legendary former players including Micky Skinner, Mike Campbell – Lamberton, the cricketer CB Fry and most legendary of all Sherlock Holmes’ friend and assistant Dr Watson.

There is little documentary evidence available to determine when and why Caldy RFC gained the nickname the ‘Ravers’. Although its genesis is unlikely to be as historically significant as Club’s the Oxford Dictionary definition of Ravers as ‘People with exciting and uninhibited social lives’ is a broadly accurate description of most of the players comprising the Wirral side.

Despite not quite having the cache of Club, the Ravers do have some legends of their own. Two Caldy legends Dickie Smith and Gavin Roberts, were lauded last Saturday in front of 250 past players at the annual past players lunch which preceded Caldy’s home match against Birmingham Moseley.

Dickie Smith has been the bedrock of Caldy RFC for more than 65 years. Whether playing for the 1^st xv or captaining the 2^nd xv Dickie was a tenacious backrow forward who followed up his playing career with a second career as a referee. However, for many at Caldy, Dickie is most famous for being the organising force behind the famous Caldy 7s and the leader of the ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ who maintain Caldy’s grounds and keep them in such splendid condition. 

If this wasn’t already enough to ensure Dickie Smith’s enduring status as a Caldy legend, Dickie turned his attention to fund raising. Dickie’s Dinners were special. Their primary purpose was to raise money for Caldy RFC which they did to great effect, but they did so much more than that. They brought people together. 

If you were lucky enough to get on to Dickie’s list, you were assured of a brilliant Friday evening with 70 or so other guests to dine in Caldy’s little wooden shack. If you didn’t have the Friday Feeling before you arrived for one of Dickie’s dinners, you certainly had it by the time you left. 

Dicke Smith deserved every decibel of the congratulations he received last Saturday when he was officially designated a ‘Caldy Legend.’ 

Gavin Roberts, AKA the ‘Welsh Wizard ‘joined Caldy from Mold RFC in 2007 and played for the Ravers until 2020. Although of a light build by current standards, as an outside centre Gav had few equals. 

Gav’s defence was immaculate. No crunching tackles, just regulation around the legs tackling that was made so effective by his positioning and speed. No matter how big and powerful the opposition, there was no way past Gav. 

In attack, pace, poise and elegance were Gav’s trademarks and his ability to break the line garnered him a Caldy record of 144 trys in his 312 1^st xv games and his brilliant place-kicking ability also propelled him to a Caldy points scoring record of 1,834 points. 

For much of Gav’s time at Caldy stand off Richard Vasey was the nominated kicker and if Caldy had not been blessed with two such talented points scorers it is highly likely that Richard’s 1,449 points would have been added to Gav’s record score. Extraordinary!

Gav has retired at the top of his game to spend more time with his young family and to play a little more golf than he was able to during his Caldy playing days. With his weekends now available for other pursuits Gavin Roberts may just get his golf handicap down from its present miserable level of 7!

Given the accolade as Caldy’s best ever player the quiet and unassuming Gavin Roberts is now officially a Caldy Legend 

After last Saturday’s mauling by Birmingham Moseley, Head Coach Matt Cairns may have been tempted to bring Dickie and Gav out of retirement. On the day, despite dominating possession and territory nothing went right for the home side, and they know there will need to be a big improvement in accuracy if they are to leave Blackheath’s Well Hall ground with any points this Saturday.

Matt Cairns has selected the following squad for the match:

1. Rushton 2. Hearn 3. Parker 4. Gerrard 5. Sanders 6. Crowe 7. Dickinson 8. Aigbokhae 9. Ainscough 10. Wyman 11. Royle 12. Barlow 13. Titherington 14. Jones 15. Gorlay 16. Stagg 17. Clarke 18. Ridgway 19. Bennett 20. Cartmill

Due to a quirk in the fixtures, there is no game for Caldy’s 2^nd xv this weekend.