A couple of weeks ago, Myerscough College paid tribute to the excellence of members of its teaching and support staff with its annual MyStar Awards. One of those singled out was Steve Gough, Head of Rugby, for his contribution to Sustainability, Community & Charity and he’s pictured here with the College’s CEO & Principal Alison Robinson.
Steve has been a major figure in the development of rugby in the North West with his leadership over the last 15 years of the very influential Myerscough rugby programmes and linked to the Sale Sharks AASE. Many hundreds of fine young players have benefitted from his influence, encouragement and support, going on to successful playing careers at elite, semi-professional and community levels. Steve’s other achievements in the educational sector included a couple of years as Head Coach of the England Colleges squad.
His senior coaching experience also includes major roles at Lancashire club level as Director of Rugby at Tarleton RUFC, Coach at Preston Grasshoppers and Backs Coach at Fylde RFC.
But Steve’s rugby skills were demonstrated much earlier as an outstanding young player, initially with representative honours for Lancashire Colts & England Colts.
His senior career began at Fylde as an 18 year old when he made his debut against Hartlepool Rovers in September 1985. What followed was a distinguished 13 years tenure at fly-half or fullback in the Club’s campaigns in National One (level 3) and Allied Dunbar Premiership 2 (level 2).
Gough had all the skills as a playmaker and last line of defence. His opportunities as a goal kicker were restricted early on by the presence of master kicker Steve Burnage and Mike Jackson. But this changed as he took on the role of principal goal kicker in the early to mid-1990s.
He made 303 1st XV appearances during this period and scored 1365 points. In the promotion winning 1996-7 season, he scored an incredible 421 points (401 in league games, a National League record which stood for many years) in 32 appearances. He left the club to join Coventry for the 1998-9 season and was almost as productive. He moved on to Moseley in 2000-1 before returning to Fylde as Backs Coach/player in 2001-2.
His final account as a Fylde player was a total of 320 appearances and 1432 points, a record he’s held since authoritative statistics were collected in the mid 1970s. Steve Gough remains very high in the Parthenon of Fylde star players and crowd favourites!