Cusworth: I owe that school everything

POSSIBLY Normanton’s most illustrious old boy is former England and Leicester Tigers fly-half Les Cusworth, a genius on the Sevens pitch and, of course, a former England backs coach before he moved to Argentina. He recalls his Normanton days with huge gratitude.

“We had all passed the 11+ but most of us were on free school dinners, our families struggling to make ends meet. It was our big chance in life.

“We were proud of the rugby culture. Our kit was always immaculate for every game – my Mum had to cope with three rugby playing sons – while our white laces were immaculate every match day. That was my job. There was a real discipline and you grew up pretty quickly. The masters were good blokes but we would never think of playing up – any trouble, our parents would back the school and masters every time.

“Back then you had to wear shorts to school until you grew to a certain height so as I hardly ever grew I was wearing shorts until I was 15! I had to walk past the local comprehensive school every morning and cop plenty of banter.

“Mr Jupp was a superb coach and motivator, greatly assisted by Dave Sanderson who went on to coach with England Schools. They enlisted a dozen or more staff and infused them with their passion for the game. Going to Normanton was like being a member of the best sports club in the North.

“One year Mr Jupp and two of the masters loaded us into three Volkswagen combies and drove us nine hours down to play Llanelli GS. Health and safety would have a fit these days but it’s one of my great rugby memories.”

Cusworth was on the losing side just once in seven years as he came up through the school but he does have a tinge of regret about missing out on their 1970 Rosslyn Park Sevens triumph.

“I wasn’t one of the absolute stars – Keith Banks was picked ahead of me and that was fair enough, Keith was a brilliant schoolboy player and a very fine League pro. So was his brother Barry who played for England RL. Neil Tuffs was another who turned professional. There were so many.

“I owe that school everything, my rugby career, my professional life, and the fact that I am talking to you from a lovely home in Hurlingham in Buenos Aires.

“It breaks your heart when you think of school like that being disbanded for no good reason.”