Jack Smith celebrates 60 years with Bridgwater and Albion (From This is The West Country)

Jack Smith celebrates 60 years with Bridgwater and Albion

9:39am Tuesday 9th February 2010

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A LONG-SERVING Bridgwater and Albion coach has entered the 60th year involved in the game he loves.

Albion stalwart Jack Smith, coach of the Bridgwater and Albion third team, first joined the club in the 1950/51 season after serving in the army.

Jack got his taste for rugby when in the army, training in the Royal Signals Corps in Catterick before being deployed to Egypt.

He joined Bridgwater and Albion, then Bridgwater United, aged 20 and played on the wing.

He said: “I started off on the wing like most young players and eventually became prop and skipper.

“When we started the Colts team, there were only ten or 12 players involved but more people started to get involved and enjoyed it.

“Some found playing a higher standard of rugby too much of a jump – some players could but some couldn’t.”

Jack admits he hasn’t got any plans to mark his 60th anniversary with the club but has collected many fond memories.

He added: “The club threw a surprise ‘This Is Your Life’ party to mark my 50th anniversary. I was on my way to pick up a friend but ended up there!

“I was also invited by the RFU to go to Twickenham to see England play France as a special guest. My name was put forward by the county and was lucky enough to be chosen.

“I was put up in the Winchester Hotel in London and went for a special dinner at the Hilton hotel in Mayfair. My name was even mentioned in the programme as a special guest.

“I have some great memories being involved with rugby.”

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