Bookends, or Ten Years in the Making

"1st September 2023 marks 30 years since I took charge of my first 1st XI fixture; 25th March 2023 marked 20 years since the 1st XI won the Boodle & Dunthorne ISFA Cup. These two events provided ‘bookends’ to my ten-year, 360-plus game tenure as Master-in-Charge of Football.” Chris Rigby (Boys Division Staff, 1991-2003) is delighted to share his recollections of the latter of these events.

During the 2002-2003 season the 1st XI squad carried the Bolton flag from gun-to-tape. The season started with ISFA Sixes success at Forest School and an unbeaten season* culminated on 25th March 2003 in ISFA Cup Final victory against Bradfield at Northampton. Whilst my recollections are many I will restrict my comments on this successful season to three areas: the ISFA Cup run; the final itself and some comments on the boys.

The run to the final involved five matches, four of them requiring long journeys and all significant in their own way. A 14-2 away win against an admittedly weak Dover College, depleted further by expulsions, set a competition record. A 5-1 win at home over King's, Chester was rewarded with a visit to Repton, the second in three weeks, where the earlier 4-1 victory was repeated.

gentlemen”, before sharing my observation with our boys – I like to think that it steeled them further as they readied for battle.

Perhaps surprisingly my recollections of the final itself are relatively few. As the season had progressed I had fielded many comments such as “It’s Bolton’s cup to lose” and “This time, Riggers, surely?” I regarded the first of these comments as a compliment to the boys from those who had seen the side in action; the second was reference to my two earlier attempts to steer the 1st XI to victory in the final. The lessons I learnt from those earlier finals plus my lifetime in football had taught me that nothing is guaranteed. My colleagues on the day Kevin Knibbs, Mike Duxbury (Boys’ Division Staff) and Chris Wainman (Boys’ Division Staff, 2002-2003), were invaluable in managing expectations and ‘cautious optimism’ became our watchwords. Having scored 136 goals in 31 appearances beforehand, the narrow 1-0 score line reflected the strength of the Bradfield opposition and Chas Parry’s (Class of 2004) 31st goal of the season was the headline. A personal favourite memory, however, was having Neil Price (Class of 2003) in the side. Neil’s elder brothers, Ian (Class of 1995) and Andrew (Class of 1997), both featured throughout the decade I was in charge, Ian playing in that opening 1993 season and Andrew captaining in the 1997 Final at Craven Cottage.

The victorious squad!

Back, L-R: Neil Price, Adam Marshall, Matthew Pimblett, Geoff Earle, Paul Rainford, Daniel Jones, Sam Pepper, James Kinsler, John Abbott

Front, L-R: John Burrows, Jonathan Finlay, Paul Holowaty, Nick Pantelides, David Roberts, Chas Parry, Sean McAllister

As if Repton (twice) wasn’t a tough enough test, the quarterfinal took the side to the home of the defending cup holders, Brentwood, in Essex. I know that my colleague and good friend Kevin Knibbs (Boys’ Division Staff, 1993-2007) will say that this was the toughest test and the side came away with a 3-1 victory. The semifinal took the side to Charterhouse where the route to the final was completed in style with a 5-0 victory. Memories of these matches are many and strong, and whilst any victory at Repton was memorable, let alone two in three weeks, I share one perhaps less-known memory. As I was delivering the Bolton team sheet to the Brentwood dressing room ahead of the quarter-final I saw the actual trophy in the middle of their changing room! Silently I thought “Have a good last look at it,

This side was captained by Nick Pantelides (Class of 2003) and had the ideal balance between Upper and Lower Sixth boys, complemented by just two outstanding Fifth Formers, Paul Rainford (Class of 2005) and soon-to-turn-professional Sean McAllister (Class of 2005). The side had the shortest of twinspearheads in Chas Parry and David Roberts (Class of 2003), with Parry’s mercurial talent perfectly supported by Roberts’ relentless and combative harassing of opposition defenders which belied a deft touch and footballing brain. Another feature was the side’s appetite for practice. The coaching phrase ‘tiki-taka’ was yet to become fashionable; however, this side’s ability to string endless passes together and reduce sides to demoralisation was born of this thirst for practice. Thirdly, as was often the case at Bolton, several of the side had bided their time since leaving the Under 15s in the 2nd XI and 3rd XI whilst growing in stature and emerging ready for the 1st XI stage. My proudest memory, however, is that the side always went about their business in a very modest, albeit ruthless, fashion and my greatest personal satisfaction comes from the string of cards and letters sent by opposition coaches and observers, all commenting on the skills of the side which were only outshone by their conduct on and off the field. Gary Blunt, the Dover College Master captured it: “…although the (First Round) game was a one-sided affair, it was a pleasure to host such a super set of lads.” Finally, during the decade I had the privilege to be Master-in-Charge, in excess of 200 boys represented the 1st XI. Every single player selected during that period represented the School with pride and can rightfully claim a contribution to the success of that 2002-03 side. Each one of that 200-plus group benefited from the wisdom and support of the Boys’ Division staff, particularly those coaching them in younger age group sides, and also those coaching them in the other sports they played. I was fortunate to have this foundation to build upon and want to take this opportunity to thank my teaching colleagues for their support. I wish to pay particular thanks to my predecessor John Taylor (‘JLT’) (Boys’ Division Staff, 1971-2011) for recommending me and to Headmaster Alan Wright (1983-2000) for appointing me and supporting me throughout.

*The claim of ‘an unbeaten season’ may raise eyebrows among some Alumni and be contested, particularly those who featured in a memorable match on The Levels shortly after the final (29th March 2003). Without prolonging this piece however, all I will say is that on that particularly day, both sides were winners!