FYLDE DELIGHTED THAT ANOTHER FOUR PLAYERS COMMIT TO FYLDE FOR 2024-25
ALEX CLAYTON
Alex Clayton is a very talented sportsman. He learnt his rugby from the age of 6 in the Fylde Mini-Juniors and thereafter at AKS, progressing to caps at age grade level for Lancashire. But his parallel love of football led to a two year contract with Fleetwood Town and the prospect of a full-time professional career in the round ball game. When he left Fleetwood he joined Birmingham University to study Jewellery and Silversmithing, an interest developed in his family’s Fylde Coast-based business, Clayton Jewellers.
On leaving university he returned to his home area and rediscovered his love of rugby at Fylde’s preseason training in the summer of 2021. He featured in the Hawks squad during that season impressing at fly-half or fullback with his pace, touch, neat distribution and measured kicking.
This earned him a 1st XV National League debut in February 2022 in a crucial game between Fylde and Sedgley Park, then in 3rd & 4th place in N2(N). It was an inauspicious start for him in a game that was delayed due to a waterlogged Woodlands pitch. Sedgley completely bulldozed the home side in a one sided contest. By the time Alex came off the bench in the 2nd half after 66 minutes, Fylde were 0-31 down and a minute later it was 0-38. Things could only get better! A week later he was amongst the replacements once again when Fylde visited Bournville and this time the Lancastrians won 33-47.
A nice coda in April 2022 led him to skipper the Fylde U23s team to an impressive victory over Preston Grasshoppers in the Donny Sutherland Trophy game in front of a large crowd at Lightfoot Green.
He came back into regular contention last season when he continued to show his versatility and talent stepping in at fly-half, centre and fullback as the 1st XV squad’s needs required. Apart from his clever running lines, distribution and game intelligence, Alex is a fine goal kicker and could hold his own in National Two company in this role.
In all, Alex has made 18 appearances for the 1st XV, either starting or coming on as a replacement, and has continued to turn out for the Hawks when his professional career allows. He’s scored three tries in the National League and kicked eight points from the tee. He remains a very important player in the 1st/2nd team squad at the Woodlands.
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BEN GOULD
Ben Gould joined the Fylde Mini-Juniors at Under 7s level and has the distinction of playing through all age groups, the Colts and then to senior rugby with the Saracens, the Hawks and finally the 1st XV.
A major influence in his rugby journey has been father Jeff, a former Chairman of Fylde’s Mini-Juniors, player, referee and recent President of Fylde RFC. Ben also pays tribute to the role of AKS in his rugby development under a variety of coaches which ended in him skippering the School’s 1st team in his last year before going on to university. Up to Under 14s he played mainly on the wing but with encouragement from his school coaches, he switched to the no 9 berth.
Ben suffered a serious leg fracture in December 2016. Whilst going through rehab he saw at close quarters the role of physiotherapy and decided that this might be a career for him. He subsequently joined Leeds Beckett University and studied for a BSc in Physiotherapy, completing it in the summer of 2022. Ben was a part of the University’s senior squad and began his senior rugby career with local club Otley. Working his way into the 1st XV, Ben made 12 appearances in the Club’s triumphant 2021-22 North Premier Division campaign which ended as champions and promotion back to the National League.
Returning to Lytham St Annes in mid-2022 post-University to begin a professional physiotherapy career, it led inevitably to his linking up with Fylde once again during pre-season summer training. He played regularly for the Hawks and worked his way into 1st XV contention. He made his 1st XV starting debut against Sheffield Tigers at the Woodlands on Saturday 3rd December 2022.
His breakthrough happened last season when as principal scrum-half he made 18 starting appearances, sharing the role with Sale Sharks Academy player Will Wootton. He developed impressively during the season including a sharpness near the opponents’ try line which led to him notching five tries.
Joint Head Coach Chris Briers said: “One of the encouraging thing about Ben is his enthusiasm to improve. He asks questions about how he can improve and develop, in order to make the 9 jersey his.”
Good luck in 2024-25 Ben!
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SAM PARKER
Sam Parker learned his rugby at Wigan RUFC and his ‘finishing school’ was Kirkham Grammar School where he was a regular in the 1st XV at hooker and playing frequently in the same pack as Tane Bentley. He earned representative honours for Lancashire at age group level and progressed through to the Sale Sharks Academy.
Encouraged by KGS’ Head of Rugby Aled Trenhaile, he joined Fylde post Covid in 2021-22 and made impressive performances in the Hawks which drew him to the attention of 1st XV coaches Alex Loney and Chris Briers.
Shadowing the almost ever present hooker and skipper Ben Gregory was always going to restrict his appearances in the front row but he made his debut from the replacements bench in October 2021 against Wharfedale. He started a couple of 1st XV games and more as a replacement in 2022-23 before really establishing himself last season when he started seven National League matches and was a replacement in another 12, most often as a flanker. In all, he’s made 35 1st XV appearances and scored four tries.
Sam Parker said: “I have really enjoyed the last season trying out a new position in the back row. It’s definitely helped to improve my understanding of the game. But I equally enjoy the hooker role. I’ve definitely become more confident on the pitch and within the squad over the last couple of seasons and am really looking forward to the upcoming campaign.”
A typical match report, this one by Simon Taylor at Hull RUFC in April 2024, picked out Sam. “Sam Parker took the quick tap and charged through three much heavier men to touch down. To say Parker punches well above his weight would be an understatement, and this was a fine and courageous score.”
Parker is quick, very industrious all over the pitch and especially at the tackle breakdown. His bravery is outstanding and selfless. He was reporter Stuart McCracken’s Man of the Match in the epic victory over Leeds Tykes when these qualities were so evident to everyone in the big crowd.
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ROB WILLIAMSON
Rob Williamson’s rugby started at Tarleton RUFC in the junior age groups and he grew up learning the game at both the Club and Hutton Grammar School. Rotating between back-row and hooker through the years and age groups allows him to be comfortable in both playing positions.
His introduction to men’s senior rugby at Tarleton started at 17 in what was the North Lancashire & Cumbria league. It was a tough debut season which led to the 1st XV being relegated. However that was the year Steve Gough arrived at the club and turned it around for the senior rugby at Tarleton.
After a few seasons in level 8 Steve took the Club to promotion back into a level 7 with a season that saw them only lose one game. Under Steve more and more lads managed to get county honours for Lancashire Royals which Rob was proud to achieve representing Lancashire against Cheshire, Cumbria and Anti-Assassins.
After 18 years at Tarleton it was time for him to push himself for higher level rugby and Fylde had always been the main attraction. After Rob being coached by Fylde legends such as Steve Gough, Nick King and Jack Ward over the eight senior seasons at Tarleton, Fylde felt a natural choice. After watching the preseason tri-club game between Fylde, Sale FC and Hawick, he reached out to Steve, by then part of the coaching team at Fylde, and started training at the Woodlands around September.
Rob said: “Achieving my Fylde debut against Otley at the Woodlands was the highlight of the year. Finishing with four caps by the end of the season, in between playing for the Hawks, has made this season one of my favourite since starting playing rugby.”
Rob is a no nonsense, 100% hard working and consistent player who got his head down at the beginning of last season, turned in numerous impressive performances for the Hawks and when called up to the 1sts justified his chance at National League level.