READING Brendan Gallagher’s article on Coventry, the mention of hooker Bert Godwin sent me back to the 50s and my National Service in The Royal Leicestershire Regiment. I had never played rugby but I had seen some on TV, and unlike the training depot which was a place for a good number of Midlands pro footballers, the active Regiment squad was big on rugby so gave it a try. For some unknown reason they decided I should be a hooker.
There were regular inter company matches on camp. On my sixth match my opposite hooker was Bert, who had already been playing for Cov. Needless to say I ...