Dave Emery is hoping that the feelgood factor generated by the Wayne Barnes charity match at the end of April can be carried over into Lydney’s 2017/18 campaign.

The Severnsiders had a difficult season last time out, finishing in the bottom four in National League Three South West, and are certainly hoping for a big improvement next time around.

The potential of the club was plain for all to see on Sunday 30th April when a crowd approaching 2,000 turned out at the atmospheric ground for international referee Barnes’ match – an annual event which raises money for Breast Cancer Now.

The presence of England head coach Eddie Jones at Regentsholme certainly helped to swell the numbers and Emery, Barnes’ childhood friend who helps to organise the annual match, admitted weeks later: “I’m still lost for words. I can’t believe how many people turned up. The club was rocking all day.”

Emery, Lydney’s 2nd XV coach, hopes that some of that energy will rub off on the club next season and beyond.

“Regentsholme is a lovely venue,” he said. “It’s an old-fashioned ground and we’ve certainly had some big games in the past.

“I remember when we played Saracens in the Pilkington Cup 20 years ago and they rolled up with Michael Lynagh, Kyran Bracken and Francois Pienaar. I was only 17 at the time but it inspired me to play rugby at the highest level I could.”

This year was the fourth time that the charity match has gone ahead – but the first time that so many junior teams had been involved as well.

There were games involving a combined girls’ under-13/15 team and boys’ matches for under-10s, a combined under-12/13s and under-8s. What made it even more special for many of the youngsters was that international referees Barnes and JP Doyle officiated in a couple of the matches.

“These youngsters are the future of the club,” said Emery. “It may be a few years down the line but we want these local lads progressing into the first team.”

Emery said that next year’s match would be held on Sunday 6th May to coincide with the bank holiday weekend and did not rule out another appearance by Jones.

“That would be great,” said Emery. “He stayed in the clubhouse until 8 or 9pm and certainly seemed to be enjoying himself.”

If not Jones, who else would Emery like to see make a special appearance?

“Jonny Wilkinson,” came the quick reply. “He’s a World Cup winner, he’s up there with Eddie Jones. Imagine if we could get both of them.”

Emery, a back row forward who played around 150 first-team games for Lydney, has something in common with Wilkinson – they were both born on May 25th 1979.

“That’s about the only thing we do share,” laughed Emery. “He got all the rugby skills that were being handed out that day and I got left with nothing!

“Maybe if I’d been born a day later I’d have had a bit more talent!”

At least Emery, who was a non-playing coach of the Forest Invitational XV that took on Wayne Barnes’ XV, escaped injury that day.

Barnes sustained a fractured rib and Emery joked: “I don’t know how he did that. I didn’t see him tackle anyone and every time he had the ball he threw it away! Someone must have tripped him up!”

Emery reported that Barnes was “still a bit sore” in mid-May but the pain was worth it as the charity match raised more than £15,000.