In 1986 a 7s tournament was held up at the Recreation Ground under the ‘SportsAid’ banner. Jake went up out of curiosity and found himself roped into Bengo’s Coalville side at scrum-half, a position he played at school and continued to play for all of his playing career.

Jake’s first game for Melbourne was for the 2nd team, captained by BB on a Sunday afternoon against Sudbury Prison. Some baptism of fire for the tender-aged Jake. He turned up at the appointed time, which turned out to be well before any other Melbourne players or the opposition, and after kicking his heels for a while, decided that he must have got the day wrong. Back home and tucking into Sunday lunch he was rudely disturbed by Brian Cope and Dennis Millington who had turned up to return him to the Recreation Ground. Jake recalls that it was a bit of a squeeze sitting on Copey’s lap in Dennis’s MG sports car.

Garry Fawcett arranged for Jake to have trials for the Derbyshire County team one Sunday
morning and collected Jake in Dave Humpstone’s van, with Garry still rather over-refreshed from the previous night of imbibing, to attend Derby Rugby Club where the trials were being held. All the other trialists had proud Mothers and Fathers encouraging their offspring whilst Garry slept off his hangover on a bench snoring rather louder than the referee’s whistle.

Jake has been Vets Team Manager and currently organises International tickets for the Club.

1. First position you played in rugby Scrum Half
2. Worst injury Dislocated clavicle (Collarbone)

3. Best player you played with at MRFC or elsewhere Stuart Hamilton

4. Best person for post-match drinks, fun and frolics Bengo

5. What should your nickname be Ocky

6. What bad habit do you have Too many to list

7. Your sporting hero Martin Johnson

8. Your non-sporting hero Churchill

9. Favourite food/meal Fish Pie

10. Favourite TV programme/film Layer Cake

11. Favourite book Beano Annual 1975

12. Who dead or alive would you like to have a conversation with Joe Strummer

13. You can take either a book, music or a tool to a desert island. Which, and what would it be Radio & Batteries

14. Dream job Property Developer

15. Tell me something about you that no one knows Can’t, It’s a Secret

16. A phrase that reflects your life If I hadn’t seen such riches I could live with being poor!

17. What sport do you wish you’d tried Motocross

18. Who would you like to see interviewed for this article The Doc

19. Your wish for the future of MRFC Onwards and Upwards

20. Your Melbourne Dream Team of players past and present
Roger Lucas
The Doc/Paul Kellow
Robin Clayborn
Keith Bonner
Paul Ewins/Pete Welsh
Paul Macer
Pete Lewsey/John Ewins
Ian Lucas
Me/Lee Smith
Stuart Hamilton
Jonny French
Ian Watts
Dave Middleton
Andy Watts
Graeme Hardy