Widden Old Boys’ late president Mike Taylor will be in the thoughts of pretty much everyone at the Memorial Ground on Saturday when the club look to clinch the second promotion spot in Gloucester One.

Mike, who was also the club’s senior rugby manager as well as 1st XV fixtures secretary, died in early November from a heart attack. He was in his early 60s.

“He was Mr Widden Old Boys,” said club secretary Ros Deane. “He did everything. We want to win promotion in Mike’s memory, he would have loved that.”

Not that it’s going to be easy on Saturday because standing in Widden’s way at Tuffley Avenue will be Berry Hill, who have already been crowned champions.

They secured top spot last weekend without having to work up a sweat because St Brendan’s Old Boys forfeited the game.

Coach Ady Powles admitted that was not the way he would have chosen to win the title and he is determined to end the season on a high against opponents who have made a late charge for promotion on the back of eight successive wins.

“They’ve obviously got more to play for and they’ll be hungry but we are going to go there in a positive mood,” said Powles.

“The boys have been in party mood but we want to go there and do ourselves justice.”

The two teams have already met twice this season and the score is currently 1-1 with both games being decided by just one point – Berry Hill winning in the league and Widden Old Boys securing victory when they met in the Junior Vase.

Widden’s remarkable run this year has left them a point clear of third-placed Old Colstonians – who host mid-table Dursley in their final game on Saturday – although the Bristol club’s points difference is 12 better than Widden’s.

On paper, Old Costonians would appear to have the easier fixture but Ros Deane is hoping that the improved weather sticks around until late Saturday afternoon at least as she says she hopes Widden will be able to outrun Berry Hill’s muscle power.


And there should be a sizeable crowd watching them try to achieve victory because the club have made Saturday a VP day.

Pretty much everyone associated with the club will be there, including chairman David Easterbrook who has cancelled a stag trip to Benidorm so that he can be at the game.

He like everyone else connected with Widden Old Boys will be hoping that they can mark their 96th year by securing a place in Gloucester Premier.