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Coach of the Month :- Jon Nicholson Kendal R.U.F.C.
(An article borrowed from the Bateman League monthly magazine- many thanks to Fred Swarbrick)
I travelled up to Kendal to meet Jon Nicholson, wondering first
just what a reception I might receive. Kendal of course is
my hometown, but unfortunately my family moved to the
seaside when I was 11 years of age. I had no opportunity to
play for my hometown Club, but played against them a huge
number of times for the Vale of Lune Club. Feisty confrontations
they were at that time. I suppose when you have such
renowned players such as Bobby Hogg, Pym Sharpe and
Tony Colloby in a Kendal side facing you, you’re not likely
to have things your own way.
I have not overlooked John Nicholson (Snr), the Kendal
hooker at that time, one of the most competitive hookers I
came across in Rugby. I also remember John being a fine
competitive swimmer. (What a memory!!) In the normal
course of things I rang Jon up to arrange to meet him and
suggested I’d played against his father and he might join
him. I was amazed when Father John (no religious meaning)
did indeed arrive. It was great to meet up with him again
after some 40 years or so.
Jon’s whole life has been dedicated to the Kendal Club; in
fact the Rugby ethos is inbred in the Nicholson family. Ian
his eldest brother joined Fylde from Kendal and established
his place in a strong Fylde side at Full Back. Mark the other
brother also played hooker at Kendal for several seasons
before moving away, which is when Jon stepped into the
Black & Ambers No. 2 shirt. Jon had no thoughts of leaving
Kendal and had started his Rugby career in Kendal’s mini –
junior section playing initially for their U11s before moving
up the respective age Groups.
He played 16 seasons for Kendal’s 1st
XV. Spending four of them as Captain, a Club record that still stands today. His first game was at the Roundhay Club ( remember them) and continued until his retirement at the end of the 1999-2000
season, when Kendal were promoted to National 2 as it was at that time.
He continued to support the Club and whilst watching the first home game of the following season, he was approached by Kendal’s 3rd XV Skipper and asked if he might turnout for the 3rd XV the following week. He jokingly said he would, if he could play fly half. The following week he played at fly half for the thirds at Furness – and the following week. In fact he played fly half for a further two seasons actually, spending more time latterly in the 2nd XV. A change of position on the field!! His philosophy was simple , he reasoned it was the position that required the least amount of running! All he did was pass it or kick it. I suppose a number of Fly Halves might dispute this observation!
I mention all the above as a pre-amble to illustrate that Jon is, and has been a one Club player and official. He in fact resisted going to University to fulfil his ambition to play for his home town Club and took up employment in a local printing company. Later moving into financial services after his first team playing days were over – a career changing decision that took him a long time to make (and study for) – but one that gave him flexible working hours to fit around his rugby commitments.
The sudden unfortunate death of the legendary Peter Kremer in early 2002, who had played and coached Kendal for many years and taken them to their highest ever league status, was a massive loss not just to Kendal, but also to rugby throughout Cumbria and beyond. Neil Rollings, who had previously coached with Peter up until he left Sedbergh School in 2000, fortunately returned to the area at the end of 2002 and he did not hesitate in assuming the role of head coach. Jon initially rejected requests by the Club to move into coaching but when the senior players started to pester him he felt he could not let them down. So under Neil Rollings, Jon started coaching the forwards.
Jon had gained valuable knowledge and experience firstly playing with, and then under Peter and latterly working with Neil for some four seasons.
During this time Jon also assumed the position of the second front row replacement and it was not uncommon for him to take to the field during the later stages of the game.
Relegation to North 1 was experienced in 2006 and Neil Rollings, after carrying out the role of coach after the Kremer era, decided to stand down. A number of the senior players also left at that time.
Jon was asked to take over the role as Head Coach. He accepted, you wouldn’t
really have expected anything else, and with David Bell as three quarter coach
began to develop his own philosophies in relation to the game.
He has attained qualifications in coaching but was quick to explain that these
courses did not teach a great deal in man-management, contract negotiations,
budgeting, recruitment, motivation and perhaps most importantly common
sense. Skills that are vital tools required by any coach taking on a job in the
game as it is set up at present.
His singular objective in coaching at Kendal is quite simple – win every game.
He is fully aware that this does not all ways happen but come Sunday mornings the focus and planning restarts again for the
If you want to attain high levels you need to set higher targets. At Kendal we have a very simple structure to our game but one which we constantly strive to do better. Within that basic structure all players have choices and decisions to make at every stage of the game. I see my role as helping our players to make better decisions, more often, especially in the heat of battle.
He is not afraid to ask or seek advice from other sources either. Utilising the specialist expertise of local conditioning and sprint coaches.
Acknowledging the superb work and benefits delivered by the physio’s and current chairman Dr. Steve Green in dealing with injuries. He also likes nothing better than talking rugby over a pint with some of the Club’s older members and past players’. People who have so much experience of playing and watching Rugby. There is always some little gem of experience or knowledge to pick up.
However there is one thing that Jon is adamant about. Don’t be afraid of making the tough decisions and never back out of telling players’ the truth even if you know they aren’t going to like it. Ultimately you have to be prepared to stand or fall on your own decisions. You take the plaudits with success you also take the flak when things are not going your way. No one is more important than the Club. A long time ago someone told me that players were like ships that pass in the night and the Club was the lighthouse that guided them and stood in perpetuity. Of course, I thought he was talking rubbish at the time but now I am a little older and wiser, I have to agree with him.
upcoming match. ‘What do we need to do better and more importantly how do we achieve it?’. He reckons the most nervous he has ever been before and during a match was the last game of the season two years ago. ‘We had won promotion from the old North 1 the previous week which was great and what we set out to achieve 8 months before. But now with one game remaining and promotion in the bag, our goal shifted. We now wanted to go the season unbeaten. I was concerned about the mindset of some of our younger players’ but all credit to them they just got on with it. In fact, he was one himself earlier this season at Loughborough, when with 5 minutes to go he was stripped and ready to take the field, 26 years after he first stepped onto the Roundhay pitch. Kendal are currently operating with a true skeleton squad, which outlines his qualities in managing to maintain the Club's position in the higher reaches of the game.
Kendal are in a period of change and contrary to our other four highlighted coaches Jon is working with a fragmented 2nd XV,the only other player resource he has at his disposal.
In fact it is not uncommon for Kendal to play league matches with only 3 substitutes. All the Best to the “Black and Ambers”. Their future must be assured under a dedicated coach such as Jon “Bully” Nicholson. |
