Like his good friend Mike Edwards, Cheltenham stalwart John Woodward likes to look back as well as forward.

For a good number of years now he has been looking into the history of Cheltenham Rugby Club and when he found these two pictures from yesteryear, he popped them in the post to The Local Answer complete with pen pix for every player.

The two teams – Cheltenham Past and Present and Old Patesians – were pictured before the match which marked the opening of the Old Patesians’ new ground next to their clubhouse in Everest Road on 1st September 1975.

Woodward wrote: “Old Pats president Cyril Enoch kicked off the match. Adrian Drake, the current Town captain, scored the first points with a try early in the proceedings.

“However, a Chris Harper try and three penalty goals from Bob Yemm and a conversion won the game for Old Pats 15-14.”

The match was the first time that the Pats players could run out from the changing rooms at Everest Road and play a game on one of the adjacent pitches. The club were formed in 1912.


Cheltenham Past and Present XV

Bob Redwood: Mercurial fly-half, ex-St Paul’s College and sports teacher at Bournside School. Represented Gloucestershire when they won the county championship. Later went on to coach Old Patesians, Cheltenham and Gloucester.

Andy Hamill: Genial utility back from Ireland.

Roger Hosen: From Penryn, sports master at Cheltenham College. Won England caps at full-back. Prodigious kicker of the ball from both hand and penalty goals.

John Williams: Fleet no 8 with great handling skills. Later joined Stroud RFC.

Adrian Drake: Versatile prop forward. A solicitor, he moved from Tewkesbury to Cheltenham whom he captained in 1975.

John Hall: Athletic second row forward who represented Northumberland and North East Counties against the All Blacks in Bradford in 1972.

Phil Newport-Black: Reliable back from Cheltenham Grammar School.

Bernard Capaldi: Exceptional flanker who scored the only try for Western Counties against Australia in Bristol in 1967. Selected for the Barbarians Easter tour to Wales.

Phil Davies: Local legend and famous centre from the 1955 Lions tour to South Africa. A headmaster at Cheltenham College Junior School and president of Cheltenham from 1972 to 1985.

Alan Bunston: Intelligent flanker from Cheltenham North. Weights and measures inspector.

Dave Cook: Ubiquitous hooker and stalwart. Son of club chairman Horace Cook.

Mike Hyde: England Schools fly-half under the guidance of Illtyd Pearce at Cheltenham Grammar School. Combative player.

Harry Trumble: Experienced winger from RAF Innsworth.

Peter Tapsell: Wiry prop forward who played for Gloucestershire alongside hooker Dave Protherough.

John Berry: Elusive winger who played for Gloucestershire. After leaving St Paul’s College, he was the Town’s all-time top try-scorer in their 130-year history – 115 tries in 246 matches. Joined Stroud RFC. Coached at Cheltenham Grammar School and Cheltenham College.


Old Patesians

Bill Leech: Gloucestershire Society referee who taught at Hucclecote School. An Old Pats stalwart for more than 50 years.

Ray Kingscott: Redoubtable second row for many years. Team captain and subsequent chairman with large family involvement including wife, sons and grandchildren.

Bob Taylor: Reliable forward player.

Pete Shaw: Dogged prop forward from Gloucestershire Constabulary.

John Shaw: Foxy flanker and club stalwart alongside brother Pete.

Bob Yemm: Elusive scrum-half from Chosen Hill School and former Cheltenham Colts skipper. Excelled at goalkicking.

Eddie Washbourne: Cool fly-half from Cheltenham North.

Chris Harper: Versatile back with sidestep.

Tom Bellis: Steadfast flanker from the Town club.

Paul Millington: Sound full-back from Cheltenham Grammar School and Cheltenham RFC.

Dick Lewis: Strong running and tackling centre from Wales. A schoolmaster.

Chris Elliott: Natural leader at no 8. Captained Cheltenham Colts and played at the Town club.

John Bennett: Gentlemanly but gritty prop forward.

Roger Goldby: Long-serving hooker. Apprentic instructor at Dowty Ltd.

Rennie Mulholland: Strong running centre who later captained the club.

Gordon Parr: Suave fly-half and play-maker.

Ian Golesworthy: Mr Old Pats who engendered the spirit of enjoyment.