Ernie Beasley - Still Playing At 50

I first started playing with odd-shaped balls in September 1963, 38 years ago, when tries were worth 3 points and you could kick your way up and down the touchlines, with wingers throwing the ball in underarm! I was so tall compared to the rest (Dave Scott was up to my shoulder) that I went straight into the second row! My contemporaries later to be at the Eds were Les Jackson, Dave Scott and John Burdett.

I first played for the Eds 4th team in, I think, 1974 after my drinking buddies Burdett &  Scott persuaded me to start playing again. The 4th Team captain was Roger Wood and the 1st XV captain was Keith Betney. Gren Perry was still playing, Alan Cadman was nearly 40 but going strong.

I became 4th team captain in 1975 by the simple process of turning up one Saturday with a pen - fatal!  And thus began my broader education as a rugby player by picking myself as last man in the team, and have played every position on the field for the Eds except fly-half, which I did do in a trial game - didn't get the job for some reason . . . .

I owe the greatest debt of gratitude to Reg Harris, who taught me more about front-row play in 2 seasons at the Eds than I did in all 7 years at school.

Possibly the worst moment of my illustrious Eds career came on one of those dark December days when you arrive late at a Leicester park pitch to discover that you have to erect your own posts. In the days before contact lenses and using an
old brown ball, it became apparent in the deepening gloom of the 2nd half that I couldn't actually see the ball, and the only way  to avoid being accused of not keeping up with play was to just run towards the majority of red-and-white shirts!  As for hooking the ball in the scrum  - don't ask! (Footnote: for those of you who think I play like a blind bat, I've been wearing lenses for the last 15 years, but neglected to confess to it until now!)

One of the highlights of my career was to make my 1st team debut at the age of 48, whilst on tour in Cork in 2000. I'm fairly sure that I won't be qualifying for the 50-cap tie, however.

The best moment of my career is now. Ask me again in a year and it will still be "now", even if we're playing with 12 men uphill against the wind and rain, because that's the nature of the beast, and why I just can't give up the great game.

I was asked for my try scoring record, but the guy who kept my scores now has Alzheimer's. The only score I can remember is the last conversion kick of the 2001 Den Haag tour, which the guys gave to me expecting to mess up, but I
didn't! Thanks to Clifford Raven for placing for me, and the kicking tips! (no more golf tips, though)

My other pleasure being a masochist, was to be Treasurer for the club for 9 seasons from 1992, taking over from Grenville Perry and handing over to Mark Lingard. Brian Simpson is the only other guy alive who knows the pleasure and
the pain - but what a privilege to serve.

I'm currently playing with a broken finger, my only break in my career, due solely to being picked on the wing. This is a very dangerous position, so I've returned to the front row, where things happen from 5 yards, max! As for retirement, well, I used to sit down at the end of a season and see how one of my role models, Jimmy Connors, fared at Wimbledon, and if he did OK, then I would commit to the next season. That yardstick is long since gone, so I guess I'll just have to play it by ear! As I told the reporter for the Pink, I started playing again in 1986 after a spell in London, and just forgot to stop!

See you all Saturdays

Ernie