Cov’s array of talent just freakish for 1970s
MENTION in this column last week of the passing of former Coventry and England lock John Barton called to mind that famous picture of eleven England internationals lining up for Coventry just before the start of their 1973-74 season. And no sooner had that thought occurred than a copy of the picture serendipitously arrived from Coventry.
Barton, shoddily treated by England after a more than decent debut season in 1967, was one of those who pitched up in their England kit at Coundon Road at pre-season training and it’s an interesting picture to mull over nearly 50 years on.
Firstly, although we have become used in modern times to professional teams, with the ability to ‘buy-in’ anybody they want, fielding sides packed with internationals, it was extremely unusual – freakish even – for an amateur club to boast such a vast array of talent at the time.
Almost all of it would have been home grown or garnered by well-established links with local schools, junior clubs, and Loughborough University up the road, while it should also be noted that a good relationship with the local education authorities was always advisable. Rugby-playing teachers was the richest seam of all to be mined by ambitious clubs in the 70s and 80s.
Another quirky observation, and perhaps the angle of the picture has something to do with it, but all eleven seem much of a muchness in terms of size and shape. This is like looking at a Rugby League line-up. No real extremes of width and height.
But what really strikes me is how few of those concerned went on to win a significant number of caps and that’s not a criticism. During this period Coventry were unquestionably the best team in the land, but England, often poorly served by their selectors, somehow failed to harness the full power and potential of the club.
Perhaps the selectors fell between two stalls. There was a marked reluctance to pick them en bloc or at least base the England team around them – the other clubs would be up in arms – so what tended to happen is that every time England failed or the selectors dithered or ran out of ideas they called up another couple of Cov players.
Cov were the best team in the land, and that would surely pay off in the end. Wouldn’t it? Then, impatiently, England would ditch them pdq when there wasn’t an instant upturn in results.
So let’s quickly go through the line-up, left to right: Bill Gittings, hard as nails scrumhalf, just one cap against New Zealand in 1973; Peter Preece, electric outside centre with the best outside break in the business, highly rated by the Welsh, should have won 40 caps not 12; Alan ‘Dick’ Cowan, talented fly-half who helped the North West beat the All Blacks in 1972, just five caps; Centre Geoff Evans, explosive off the mark, a 1974 Lion but restricted to nine England caps; Roger Creed, utility forward one England cap v Rest of the World in 1971.
Moving along we have David Duckham – England and Lions legend, enough said; Keith Fairbrother excellent mobile all-purpose prop, 12 caps; Chris Wardlow tough ball carrier in midfield, five caps; John Barton five caps at lock; Peter Rossborough exciting attacking full-back but only seven caps; Barry Ninnes, tough durable prop, one cap in 1971 against Wales.
Just to emphasise Coventry’s depth at this time three other internationals were unavailable for this preseason picture. In fact four if you count Sevens.
Fran Cotton was away resting after the England tour of New Zealand that summer, wing Rodney Webb – consistently under-appreciated by England – was also on his hols. We should also factor in the legendary hooker John Gray, who having starred for the England Seven that won the world invitation tournament at Murrayfield a few months earlier, had just turned professional with Wigan. There are those who insist Gray – a cult figure when he played League in Australia – was the best English player never to win a full cap and I for one wouldn’t disagree.
And finally a correction on last week when I referred to Barton – always known as the Bart – combining tough man duties in the Cov second row with lay preaching at the local church on Sunday morning. That was in fact Barton’s lock partner Derek Simpson who often wore the scars of battle in the pulpit the following day.
Keith Fairbrother wrote in with that correction and Keith also noted that a lifelong friendship developed between Simpson and Swansea and Wales lock Geoff Wheel after they got sent off for fighting in a Cov game against Swansea. It continued in the tunnel but all was sweetness and light for evermore after a few beers in the clubhouse. The old ways!