Archer steps down at Blues
‘The camaraderie of these times will stay with me’
PAUL Archer will step down after four years at the helm at Newbury Blues this weekend.
Archer, who replaced Lee Goodall as head coach in 2018, will bow out following the final South West 1 East game at home to Grove on Saturday (3pm).
And he said: “It is time to step down, so the team can have another voice, new ideas and a different style of coaching.
“I will be staying on as part of the senior set-up and will help out if I am needed.”
Archer’s former assistant coach, James McAvoy, will take over as head coach.
Archer has been at the club for 12 years, starting as a back row forward when the club was in National League 1.
He said: “That was the end of the glory days and I played through a really difficult period when we dropped a few leagues because of our financial situation.
“I finished playing when there was some stability and after 12 years at the club I am definitely an ‘adopted Blue’ – I feel like part of the furniture.”
Archer has always advocated the ‘family’ approach to rugby.
He said: “Even through the tough times there was a really good feeling, with players wanting to play for the club.
“We have focussed on the youth section, bringing players through to the senior teams.
“I think that in any sport, at any level, it is important to create a sense of belonging.
“We have invested heavily in bringing players through, mainly because we think that’s the right thing to do and also because of financial restraints.
“We need to create an identity where the players are almost family and I think we have done that.
“I want the club to be part of the community and for the community to want to come and watch us.”
Archer, who works full-time for the Nationwide Building Society, has many fond memories of his time in the Monks Lane hot seat.
He said: “There have been several ‘point-in-time’ moments, like when we got promoted in 2018/19 after beating Old Centralians – it was a really great day and we went so close to going through the season unbeaten.
“Another great day was when we played leaders Barnstaple at home.
“Dan Thorne won his 200th cap and we got a bonus-point try with the last play of the game.
“But it is the camaraderie and the togetherness of these times that will really stay with me.”
It’s not all been plain sailing for Blues, with a couple of relegations and the huge impact of Covid in the past few years.
Archer said: “It has been a huge challenge and I have definitely learned a lot about team dynamics and how to respond to people.
“Coaching is a 24/7 job and you are never really off – people expect you to be around all the time.”