Born in Wirksworth and brought up in Belper, Paul’s rugby journey started at Herbert Strutt Grammar School which he attended from the age of 11. At his first Games lesson on Tuesday afternoon the Games Teacher Taffy Price (All Games Teachers back then were Welsh!!) addressed Paul thus “Big lad you, 2nd Row” and thus it began. Strutts Head Boy Mick Townsend, who also happened to be the Captain of Derby Colts, engaged the unsuspecting Paul, at age 15, to play for the Derby Colts side. No lower age restrictions back then, the upper limit was U19.

Signing on officially for Derby in September 1966 Paul recalls his first game away to Birmingham Police Cadets, playing at their Police Headquarters. Derby lost 3-0 (1 Try in those days). On the bus travelling home along the A38 sirens were heard approaching fast and furiously. A Police car overtook the bus, sirens and blue lights dazzling, and escorted the intrepid travellers into the next layby. A burly Police Officer climbed up the steps of the bus and asked in a rather intimidating and very loud voice “Where is it?” One of the previously intrepid, but now not quite so, travellers skulked down the bus and handed to the Police Officer the rather large and very shiny silver cup which he had appropriated from the Main Hall of Police Headquarters where the after-match meal had been served.

In 1966 Paul had trials for Derbyshire Colts. Unfortunately, the night before the Trials an over-refreshed partygoer fell over, taking Paul with him and dislocating Paul’s shoulder. Paul’s shoulder continued to cause problems and required frequent visits to Hospitals around the region until a Turkish Doctor at Stafford Hospital showed Paul how to put the shoulder back in himself.

Playing career cut short Paul began refereeing unofficially at Derby. In 1981 he became the Colts Secretary and Manager. This led to him becoming Club Coach and Chairman of Selectors in 1982 till 1985. Eventually taking his Refereeing Course at Mansfield College under the tutelage of Chalky White from Leicester Tigers.

Now an official Referee, Neil Wayne, the President of Belper Rugby Club, invited Paul to their Annual Dinner and Prizegiving. Just a day or two before the dinner Paul received a phone call from Wayne ‘reminding’ him that he would have to ‘sing for his supper’ i.e. give a talk!! That was the beginning of many talks at various Rugby Clubs. Paul was appointed Belper Coach in 1984 until just a few years ago and continued refereeing from 1988 to 2017.

As a referee Paul was only assessed once, and never saw the Report. It was a match at Mellish under floodlights between Notts Schools and Yorkshire Schools (U18s). After the match he did ask the Assessor for advice regarding his performance. The advice was never to wear white under floodlights as they are not your friend, “it shows your gut up”.

When the knees couldn’t keep up with play Paul turned in 2019 to assessing, and shares a humorous moment with us. Derby Vets were playing Matlock 3rds with a French Referee who had little English. Judiciously stopping play for an injury near to play, the referee couldn’t decide how to get play started again and who should have the put-in to the scrum. The Captains played ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ to decide.

When asked for his Standout Moment in Rugby Paul told me about his application to be on the National Touch Judge Panel in 1991. The venue was Twickenham, the applicants changing in the England Changing Room which still bore the exotic aromas of the previous day’s International match. It was a very strict vetting of the 80-odd applicants who varied greatly in age. The first Test was to run 100 yards to the far try line and back. The determined Paul asked how fast he should run, how long he had to achieve this task. The reply was “Take as long as you need”. The second test was equally daunting. It was an eyesight test. Paul was asked to read what was written on a blackboard in letters at least a foot tall. The distance Paul stood from the blackboard was approximately two foot. At the end of these extremely challenging tests Paul was mightily relieved to hear the words “You’ve passed”.

1. First position you played in rugby: 2nd Row – No. 4
2. Worst injury: Dislocated shoulder – 26 Times

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

4. Best person for post-match drinks, fun and frolics: Martin Kent

5. What should your nickname be: Bones – I was always dislocating something

6. What bad habit do you have: I always believed what scrum-halves and fly-halves told me

7. Your sporting hero: All Black Carlos Spencer

8. Your non-sporting hero: Nelson Mandela

9. Favourite food/meal: Fish, Chips & Beans, with curry sauce over the top

10. Favourite TV programme/film: West Wing

11. Favourite book: Night Watch by Terry Pratchett

12. Who dead or alive would you like to have a conversation with: Bill McLaren – Scottish Rugby Union TV Commentator

13. You can take either a book, music or a tool to a desert island. Which, and what would it be: Anything on the Tamla Motown Label

14. Dream job: Marine Biologist

15. Tell me something about you that no one knows: I hold a School Swimming Record
16. A phrase that reflects your life: Don’t look backwards if you can’t smile

17. What sport do you wish you’d tried: Badminton

18. Who would you like to see interviewed for this article: Bob Stowell

19. Your wish for the future of MRFC: Strive for Success, but still enjoy the Game

20. Your Melbourne Dream Team of players past and present:

Forwards From: Backs From:

Props: Scrum-Halves
Robin Clayborn Jake Oxspring
Roger Lucas Ollie Paige
George Collin
Martin Kent Fly-Halves:
Dave Lowson Euan Holden
Kevin Brown
Hookers: Pete Tunnicliffe
Garry Fawcett
Paul Kellow Centres:
Gary (Pop) Lakin Ian Watts
Andy Fulton
2nd Rows Pete Ilott
Pete Welsh
Ray Sparkes Wings
Keith Bonner Graeme Hardy
Will Judge John French
Bengo Ashley Stringer

Back Row: Full Backs:
Dave Clayborn Mark Preston
Paul Macer Dean Sylvester
Ian Lucas
Pete Lewsey
Dave Bonner
Tom Warren
Keir Biggins

A Few Additional Questions from A Referee’s Perspective

Best Referee: Nigel Owens
Best Player you’ve refereed: Colin Deans (Scottish and Lions Hooker) Playing for Worksop President’s XV on the occasion of their Centenary. Deans was in his 40s and scored 3 tries. Also playing were Simon Hodgkinson and Gary Rees.

Who taught you everything you ever learnt:

Playing - Jack Connell a Teacher at Bemrose School
Refereeing - Myself initially
Assessing - Myself

How often have you been injured whilst reffing: Twice. Hamstring at Notting Colts v Otley Colts. Groin strain at Derby Ladies v Loughborough Ladies.