BRISTOL ROVERS FORMER PLAYERS’ ASSOCIATION ANNUAL GOLF DAY THURSDAY 8TH JUNE 2023
The Kendleshire Clubhouse
Well, we couldn’t have wished for better weather for the Bristol Rovers Former Players Association Annual Golf Day and it was a pleasure to see so many former stars of the past in attendance.
Our hosts, The Kendleshire, once again made us all very welcome and looked after us superbly though they did have a surprise in store for the golfers amongst us and, I hasten to add, I’m not one of them!
The surprise was in the form of a lake in front of the first tee; last year it was just a pond, but this year it’s a fully grown lake and it certainly tested those who ventured out on to the course. Three of the first four shots ended up in the water, though things did improve as the day went on!
For the first time that I can remember, all of the players who said they were going to attend turned up and, unlike last year, there were no last minute withdrawals.
Most of the former players in attendance this year have joined us in the past, but it was good to see one new face this time around, that of Mike Davis who joined us for the first time.
A special mention should go to Craig Hinton, who always makes every effort to attend in spite of the fact that it involves him travelling for two and a half hours to get to the course.
It was a boost to see Marcus Stewart join us as well and to see him out on the course and be among the prize winners. An honourable mention should also go to all of the other former players who tried to avoid sending their ball into the new water feature from the first tee, namely Billy Clark, Andy Tillson (more of him later!), Bob Bloomer, Phil Purnell, Mike England, Martin Paul, Paul Tovey.
Bristol City entered a team, namely Scott Murray, Joe Burnell. Tommy Doherty and Ryan Mitchel, as was one of the Supporters Club representatives on the Board of Directors, Steve Lamble.
I did say I would mention Andy Tillson again and it involves another lake, this time the one at the end of the 18th hole. There must be more golf balls at the bottom of that water feature than there are in the Kendleshire club shop and ‘Tilly’ added two more as he attempted to complete his round!
It didn’t seem to do him any harm, though, as he managed to find himself on the winning team. Goodness knows how the final score is worked out…seems it’s all about taking the best two scores from the four players in each team and also involves their handicap. Looks complicated to me, but what do I know; I only took the photos!
A final mention for another former player, though, Tom Stanton, who will hopefully be available to participate in next year’s event. I was Tom’s chauffeur for the day and he has so many stories he could tell about his footballing career (as well as several that can’t be told) that I suggested he should write it all down and maybe publish his own book.
I hadn’t realised that, as a young player at Liverpool he came under the wing of the legendary Bill Shankly and when he was signed by Arsenal, he was tutored by Don Howe and Bertie Mee.
Our Golf Day goes from strength to strength and it would be nice to see a team made of current players/staff join us at some point in the future, as well as some of the non league sides in the area. The Marcus Stewart and Nick Anderton Classic anyone? But don’t mention the lakes!