Name: Stephen Pickering

Date of birth: November 18, 1969

Birthplace: Cirencester

Occupation: Hairdresser

Schools: Dunalley Primary School, Cheltenham (1976-81); St Benedict’s RC School, Cheltenham (1981-86)

Your sport at school: RUGBY, RUGBY, RUGBY

Your position: Second row

How did you get involved? Played football at Dunalley School... hated it. Started at St Benedict’s and had first PE lesson aged 11 years old. We played rugby and I ran down the pitch. It was like British Bulldog with a ball in my hands... AMAZING

Best achievement/result and why: No major achievement except I played in every game up to 16. I didn’t like any other sport.

Your best coach at school and why: Bob Vaughn. PE teacher and great man. I still see him now and have even cut his hair

Other sports played at school: Ran 100 metres. I won my first race at school when I was 14 and it was the worst thing I ever did because I kept being entered into school races!

Did you continue to play sport after school and if so for whom? Got a job working on Saturdays... gutted

What is your involvement in sport today – watching or playing? Andy’s + Co have sponsored Old Patesians over the last 30 years. I am a Gloucester season ticket holder. I go to Twickenham as much as I can. We even close the business early on Saturdays now so I can go and watch rugby.

How do we get more of today’s youngsters involved in sport? Schools and local clubs need to work together with schools taking the kids to the clubs to train. It’s difficult for some kids who don’t get the chance to play sport because their parents are working.