The Bard Posted September 26, 2022 Report Share Posted September 26, 2022 Just saw this pop up on the Post website. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/bristol-city-jonny-wilkinson-international-7611643 This is a really good sign. I guess some of you were probably taught by him at Withywood School and others. He's an extraordinary coach with a unique CV. He's clearly benefitting Bristol Bears this season and his experience and knowledge in whatever capacity will only benefit City too. Always think that any successful coaching set up needs an older , wiser head involved. I'm currently reading his book and it's extremely insightful. 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davefevs Posted September 26, 2022 Report Share Posted September 26, 2022 Good name too. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chinapig Posted September 26, 2022 Report Share Posted September 26, 2022 32 minutes ago, Davefevs said: Good name too. You mean Dave I assume. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redysteadygo Posted September 26, 2022 Report Share Posted September 26, 2022 Wonder if he is any good on throw ins? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Balls Posted September 26, 2022 Report Share Posted September 26, 2022 35 minutes ago, redysteadygo said: Wonder if he is any good on throw ins? Only if they are quicker than the Jonny Wilkinson / Owen Farrell kicking routines… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin phantom Posted September 26, 2022 Admin Report Share Posted September 26, 2022 As long as we don't start inviting red arrows pilots and NHS surgeons back in again 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocking Red Cyril Posted September 26, 2022 Report Share Posted September 26, 2022 2 hours ago, Davefevs said: Good name too. Davefevs Alred That's kicking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1960maaan Posted September 26, 2022 Report Share Posted September 26, 2022 From memory. Didn't like football much. Didn't like people appealing for free kicks , again football. Could be a bit of a dick, but then I was about 14 so I probably was (not Withywood school) . He nearly got me in trouble in class. I was too busy watching him train, kick conversions & chase , when apparently I should have been working. From memory , went to the US as a kicking coach, or at least that was the rumour at school. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miah Dennehy Posted September 26, 2022 Report Share Posted September 26, 2022 He was a teacher at Whitefield when I was there, he taught Economics and PE, teachers like him were one of the many recent I disliked school so much. We had two PE teachers, Alan Evans, who was a great bloke who showed that it didn't matter how good you were at sport, but if you took part and gave it your best shot, it could be fun and have a very positive impact on your life, Alred was only interested in the very best players and gave no time to those who weren't in the 'elite'. He also prevented a mate of mine, who was a very talented footballer having contact with Manchester City, back then you needed parents and school's permission to take part in any trials and as my mate had no interest in rugby and refused to take part in after school training n it, he denied him the permission. Horrible ***. That said, he's probably the kind of horrible git who is good at what he does . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southside Posted September 26, 2022 Report Share Posted September 26, 2022 He was a P. E teacher when I was at Hartcliffe School, 1972 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bard Posted September 26, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2022 Safe to say given the comments above that his change of career was clearly a successful one. My mate had him as a teacher and said he was amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bristol Oil Services Posted September 26, 2022 Report Share Posted September 26, 2022 1 hour ago, Miah Dennehy said: He was a teacher at Whitefield when I was there, he taught Economics and PE, teachers like him were one of the many recent I disliked school so much. We had two PE teachers, Alan Evans, who was a great bloke who showed that it didn't matter how good you were at sport, but if you took part and gave it your best shot, it could be fun and have a very positive impact on your life, Alred was only interested in the very best players and gave no time to those who weren't in the 'elite'. He also prevented a mate of mine, who was a very talented footballer having contact with Manchester City, back then you needed parents and school's permission to take part in any trials and as my mate had no interest in rugby and refused to take part in after school training n it, he denied him the permission. Horrible ***. That said, he's probably the kind of horrible git who is good at what he does . Were you at Whitefield school with any of the Knibbs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miah Dennehy Posted September 26, 2022 Report Share Posted September 26, 2022 31 minutes ago, Bristol Oil Services said: Were you at Whitefield school with any of the Knibbs? Yes, Ralph was a year above me ( and obviously very good at rugby!) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1960maaan Posted September 26, 2022 Report Share Posted September 26, 2022 2 hours ago, Miah Dennehy said: He was a teacher at Whitefield when I was there, he taught Economics and PE, teachers like him were one of the many recent I disliked school so much. We had two PE teachers, Alan Evans, who was a great bloke who showed that it didn't matter how good you were at sport, but if you took part and gave it your best shot, it could be fun and have a very positive impact on your life, Alred was only interested in the very best players and gave no time to those who weren't in the 'elite'. He also prevented a mate of mine, who was a very talented footballer having contact with Manchester City, back then you needed parents and school's permission to take part in any trials and as my mate had no interest in rugby and refused to take part in after school training n it, he denied him the permission. Horrible ***. That said, he's probably the kind of horrible git who is good at what he does . I never knew he actually took lessons apart from games. We only had him when someone was out and he filled in. Seemed to resent being there and resent us too. Managed not to have much to do with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miah Dennehy Posted September 26, 2022 Report Share Posted September 26, 2022 49 minutes ago, 1960maaan said: I never knew he actually took lessons apart from games. We only had him when someone was out and he filled in. Seemed to resent being there and resent us too. Managed not to have much to do with him. In economics he was pretty clear about his political beliefs (Which were very unfashionable back then) He may be very good for you btw, but in a world where-increasingly- results are all that matter, I will still take a Mr Evans over a Mr Alred all day long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sglosbcfc Posted September 26, 2022 Report Share Posted September 26, 2022 3 hours ago, Miah Dennehy said: Yes, Ralph was a year above me ( and obviously very good at rugby!) Whitefield always had decent rugby players. Around that time, maybe a little later, John Davies joined the PE staff at the school. He was a coach at Bath rugby when they were pretty much the top club team in the Northern hemisphere. Graham Withey ex Coventry City, Rovers and a short spell at City was also a student at Whitefield in the late 70s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTRFTG Posted September 26, 2022 Report Share Posted September 26, 2022 If he taught Whitefield Rugby mid 70s then he's an extraordinary coach as they were the best of the best bar none. Only side that used to regularly beat my school team. That's not quite true, it wasn't beat so much as thrashed, wholly thrashed. I played alongside quite a few of those lads for Bristol Schools & Colts. Top kiddies and even better athletes who, like me, were lost to egg-chasing given they didn't 'fit the profile' in those days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miah Dennehy Posted September 27, 2022 Report Share Posted September 27, 2022 (edited) 6 hours ago, BTRFTG said: If he taught Whitefield Rugby mid 70s then he's an extraordinary coach as they were the best of the best bar none. Only side that used to regularly beat my school team. That's not quite true, it wasn't beat so much as thrashed, wholly thrashed. I played alongside quite a few of those lads for Bristol Schools & Colts. Top kiddies and even better athletes who, like me, were lost to egg-chasing given they didn't 'fit the profile' in those days. Yes, I can't ever remember us losing a game, not that I ever got into the side in the the upper school (Whitefield was split into 3 lower schools back then, with all the 4th and 5th years on one site, which was the upper school) I should point out that Mr Evans was heavily involved in the coaching, probably more so than Alred. Alred is certainly dedicated though, he could be seen pretty much every break time just kicking a rugby ball over the posts again and again. I think I'm right in saying he had just come back from the states where he was a kicker for a pro American football side, which also earned him an RFU ban for being professional. Edited September 27, 2022 by Miah Dennehy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1960maaan Posted September 27, 2022 Report Share Posted September 27, 2022 9 hours ago, Miah Dennehy said: In economics he was pretty clear about his political beliefs (Which were very unfashionable back then) He may be very good for you btw, but in a world where-increasingly- results are all that matter, I will still take a Mr Evans over a Mr Alred all day long. I goes to show, but I'm not sure what. I didn't like Alred, not that he took us often, but remember him. I liked the other PE teacher, enjoyed games under him. Never played for the team , never got further than the House team, but I remember getting on with him OK. But never remembered his name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonBristolian Posted September 27, 2022 Report Share Posted September 27, 2022 At least we know who to blame if we suddenly start firing a load of shots over the crossbar… 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CyderInACan Posted September 28, 2022 Report Share Posted September 28, 2022 23 hours ago, LondonBristolian said: At least we know who to blame if we suddenly start firing a load of shots over the crossbar… Rumour is that he coached Tomlin on penalties 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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