In The Build Up To The Final Game Of The Season And The Last Under The Name Of Salford City Reds David Clegg Gets The Views Of Former Widnes And Salford Player Andy Gregory
There have been quite a number of players, who have been privileged to have pulled on the jerseys of both Salford and their final opponents of the season, Widnes, but of all of them, certainly the most renowned, by far, is that of international scrum half and twice Lance Todd Trophy winner, Andy Gregory.
Andy began his career at Naughton Park, at a time when the, then, Chemics, were in their pomp and known as the ‘Cup Kings’ of their day, comprised of a list of household names of the time, including the likes of Mal Aspey, Eric Hughes, Keith Elwell, and Mick Burke. It did not take him overly long before Andy had carved out a niche for himself among this illustrious group, at scrum half, taking over from the famous Reggie Bowden, who had moved to join newly formed Fulham. A mere sixteen matches after his debut, Andy played in his very first Wembley Cup Final.
It is something of a remarkable coincidence then, that having started his career with Widnes, he should end it with Salford. Andy had always had a very soft spot for the Reds, his father, Arthur Gregory, and his uncle, Harold, both having played at The Willows, at fullback and scrum half respectively, in the late fifties and early sixties, and the family had retained links with the club, thereafter.
Although he looks back at his time, with us, as a player, with great fondness and as perhaps one of the happiest times of his wonderful playing career, it is perhaps as coach that Andy will be best remembered. With a crop of up and coming young players such as Scott Naylor, Steve Blakeley and Nathan McAvoy, Andy was able to steer the Reds into Super League and to take them to their most remarkable victory of modern times in defeating Wigan in the second round of the Challenge Cup, thereby ending the cherry and whites’ longstanding run of consecutive cup victories. That success was probably key in his being appointed coach to the GB representative team in the World Nines, choosing to appoint Salford Chairman, John Wilkinson, for whom he had, and still has, the greatest respect, as his team manager.
Having such a long and firm connection with the Red Devils, Andy believes that Salford are now on the threshold of a marvellous new era, and is really excited about it. He firmly believes that a winning side is crucial to enticing new fans to come and support the side, and with the amount of money that Chairman, Dr Marwan Koukash, has indicated that he is prepared to provide to this end, considers that every Salford fan should be chomping at the bit for the next season to be upon us.
The media grapevine has been awash for some time with various names purported to be coming to the club, but Andy is sufficiently level headed not to be led into believing that each and every one of them will be in Salford colours, next year. As far as he is concerned, the names of only a few players have been released, and consequently these are the only ones at this stage he can comment upon. Having said that he is totally impressed with the calibre of those players of whom we all know, but singles out especially, the name of Adrian Morley, for whom, in common with every person connected with rugby league, he has the utmost possible respect. He sees the international prop forward as someone who potentially can transform not just the team, but the whole club. He sees Adrian as a leader among leaders, and says whimsically that were he still a coach and he had a player of Adrian’s leadership at his disposal, he would promote him to the captaincy of his side, at the earliest opportunity, as he is a player who leads from the front, shirks nothing and has a profound influence for good among the rest of his team.
Of the remaining players, whose names we have still to learn, he stipulates that they must be totally committed to the cause, coming with the right attitude and prepared to give everything to the team and the club. Andy says that he will be coming to Thursday’s press conference, keen and eager to hear who else will be among those players charged with the privilege of leading the surge, onwards and upwards, of the Salford Red Devils, in what he believes to be one of the most important seasons in the club’s history, certainly recent history. He maintains the close season will be vital in preparation towards this.
But the buck does not stop there, for Andy believes that the fans, not just the present fans but the whole community of the City of Salford, will have a duty to turn out, get behind the team and spur them on to the greatness of which we have all dreamed, for so very long. Increasing attendances is vital to a team in the position now of the Red Devils, for supporters are the life blood of any club and, in business, numbers are important, and Salford will need to improve theirs with new, and lapsed, fans. Winning makes everyone feel so much happier, and more contented with life, throughout the week. In order to win week in week out a large, efficient and consequently expensive squad is needed and only considerably larger attendances will allow this.
A good start would be this coming Friday, for the final game of the season with Widnes. Salford’s first competitive game ever was against Widnes, and it would seem only fitting, therefore, that the end of the present era should be marked by the visit of our near neighbours from down the M62. With two encounters between the two already decided, with honours evenly shared so far, Friday’s game will be regarded as the decider, and both teams will be anxious to come out on top.
For Andy it will be a case of mixed loyalties, as he still has fond recollections of his time with both clubs, which put him in a rather invidious position when I asked whom he wanted to win. A draw was his somewhat on the fence response, but in fairness, that was the result in that very first encounter, and which, coincidentally, was also the result in the Centenary Match, a little over thirty years ago. Not to be outdone, however, I pressed him as to who he thought would win. After some little time to consider, weigh the pros and cons, and factor in home advantage, he gradually came to the conclusion that he would go with Salford but by no more than a two point advantage. I would suggest that when you factor in the standard 5% margin of error, that’s little different than the draw for which he is hoping.
So be a part of it. Come and witness the final throw of the dice on a season which has seen both sides exceed start of the season expectations, and can look back upon with some level of pride and satisfaction.
For tickets phone 0844 8880200 or call in at Salford City Stadium
