It was always likely that Nathan Wakefield would follow his dad Adrian – known to everyone as Adge – and play rugby for Cheltenham North.

Just like his dad, Nathan plays in the front row and, just like his dad, he’s also a captain.

The 27-year-old was appointed co-captain of the North’s flagship team alongside Naps Koro at the start of the current campaign, a role he is enjoying.

The club made a bright start to the season in Counties 2 Gloucestershire North and Wakefield said: “It’s going well. Before games I look after the forwards and Naps looks after the backs.”

While Koro is a relative newcomer to the club, Wakefield has been going to Stoke Road, home of Cheltenham North, since he was a baby.

“I used to watch my dad play when I was very young, I was always at the club,” he said. “I used to get paid £1 to collect the balls when they were kicked over the fence, it was a great club to be brought up around.”

The former Gotherington Primary School and Cleeve School pupil started playing rugby when he was six, although not for his beloved Cheltenham North.

“I played for Cheltenham Tigers,” he said. “The North didn’t have a youth set-up back then. My dad was co-coach of my age group with the late Jimmy Connolly.

“But it was always a given that I would play for Cheltenham North when I reached Colts age and was able to play adult rugby.”

Wakefield, who lives in Bishop’s Cleeve, played in the 2^nd XV initially, but once he got his chance in the 1^st XV he has never looked back.

One of his strengths is that he can play in more than one position. For the past year or more he has played at tighthead, but he was a hooker for four or five years before that.

“I very much stick to the front row,” he laughed. “I don’t mind whether I play prop or hooker and I do still throw in at the lineout sometimes.

“I’ve never really played loosehead, I like to be between two people.”

And while his main role is to ensure the scrum is rock solid, there is more to his game than just the set-piece.

“I’ve got good hands and feet,” he said. “If I can get my hands on the ball and pass that’s a bonus.”

That’s on top of being co-captain, of course. So, how does he see himself as a leader?

“I like to think I’m a fair captain,” he said. “I like to think that before games I speak with a lot of passion but I’m not one for losing control. I want people to enjoy playing rugby for Cheltenham North.

“If everybody sticks together that’s when we’ll have more chance of winning games.”

The North had won more games by the end of September than they did in the whole of last season in Counties 1 Western North and Wakefield, a stock controller, said: “Since last season we’ve gained a lot of players. We’re getting in the 20s at training and the aim is to get two teams out each weekend.

“If we can do that the results will follow. The aim this season is to finish in the top four or five, if not higher, but we’re a club that is constantly building.

“It’s all about the club – the ladies and the juniors as well as the men. We’re a family-based club and we’re a very inclusive club.”

His dad couldn’t have put it better himself and Wakefield Snr remains an ever-present figure at the club.

One of his many job titles is that of 1^st team manager and Nathan said: “If he’s not at home he’s always at the club,” before adding with a laugh, “or Tesco’s.”

Adge was a top drawer player back in the day, of course, at a time when Cheltenham North were winning league titles and Cheltenham Combination cups for fun.

He was a regular in and around the 1^st XV for 15 years from the late 1980s and he also captained the 2nds for six seasons.

So is Nathan a better player than his dad?

“Yes,” said Adge, whose younger son Marcus has also played for the North, “but I’d say he’s a bit more injury prone!”

And Nathan doesn’t disagree.

“I think that’s fair,” he said. “I think I must have got the bad genes when it comes to injuries!

“But I’ve been playing since the age of six. That takes its toll but I’m hoping to play for as long as possible.

“To be honest, I’m quite looking forward to playing veterans’ rugby. I think you can play that at 35.

“I’ll keep playing for Cheltenham North until my body won’t let me or I fall out of love with rugby… and I’ll never fall out of love with rugby!”