In the early 1960’s Caldy’s Paton Field present 1st xv pitch was levelled by hand by club members and volunteers. The prodigious slope which ran up to the clubhouse required many thousands of tons of soil, sand and sandstone to be removed, no small task!
Although legendary tales from some of those involved then and still involved now may suggest otherwise, these committed volunteers probably didn’t just labor with their bare hands. Spades, shovels and perhaps even a tractor would have been used,
As the 76-year-old Chairman of Caldy’s Ground Staff, Phil Wylie, explained these mechanical aids like many of Caldy’s senior Ravers are still in semi operational but temperamental working order today.
“Our 1957 Massey Ferguson tractor does take a bit of fiddling with to get started but once it is running it can keep going for as long as it takes to get the grass cut. Many of the brooms, rakes, shovels, pick axes, and spades we work with are from the 1960’s or even prior but of course from time to time we have had to replace a lot of the ironwork, handles and broom heads”
The 20 or so volunteers in the Ravers’ volunteer ground force team, collectively known as the “Last of the Summer Wine” work tirelessly throughout the year on Tuesdays and Thursdays to maintain Paton Field in top condition. Most of the LOTSW are in their 70’s, some are in their 80’s and a couple are in their mid-90’s. Understandably the LOTSW’s girls April and Frances, who are both still 21 years of age, substantially bring down the average.
Phil explains that the LOTSW community is both vital to Caldy RFC and provides an outlet for continuing involvement for those members who have retired from their careers. Phil is always on the lookout for new members. LOTSW’s ethos is “Come up when you can and do what you can.”
Phil acknowledged that this summer has been particularly challenging for the LOTSW.
“The summer’s very hot dry conditions were difficult for the pitches and also to work in. Paton Field is on sandstone which provides great drainage but also means that the surface doesn’t retain much moisture. Sprinklers and hoses make little impression in drought conditions, and our normal programme of re-seeding and maintenance was substantially delayed. The pitch isn’t quite in the condition we would like for Saturday’s opening fixture, but it is certainly playable and will be suitable for a fast game of Champ rugby”
A big vociferous home support filling the Bank and the far touchline will reward the continuing selfless commitment from Phil Wylie and the Last of the Summer Wine.
Caldy’s opening fixture in the Elior Champ kicks off at 3pm on Saturday 19th September with gates open at 12 noon.
