STEPHEN ROBERTS A SPORTING HISTORY 1961 - PRESENT
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This book is an interview conducted by his youngest son Liam Roberts. Liam wanted to hear the stories of all of the trophies cluttering their family home and until now his father, Stephen, had rarely talked about his sporting adventures. Unsure on why he had never talked about them during his childhood, Liam seeks to learn all about his father’s competitiveness and learns a little bit about himself in the process. The youngest of nine children, it was inevitable that Stephen Roberts would grow up to be as competitive as he is. Now fifty, Stephen is a management accountant, father of three and grandfather of three, though he was hasn’t always been so settled. He joined the British Army at the age of 16 and travelled the world playing sports on their behalf, winning trophy after trophy. Now retired from the British Army he still finds time to regularly compete, playing golf at a near scratch level.
CONTENTS INTERVIEW p.7
INVENTORY p.19
THE FAVOURITE p.33
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E T IN
W E I RV
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We are pretty competitive family I think you would agree why do you think that it? I think it’s just because there are too many male figures. There’s you and your brothers and me. I think in your case you’ve been playing catch up since you realised they were more able to do certain things just because they were a little bit older. So it’s understandable I am getting it from my older brothers and you, but what do you think the reason for your competitiveness is? I came from a large family of 8 children, with 4 brothers. We even fought over where to sit every evening, never mind about when we played sport, we never liked losing to your siblings. I guess that’s what rubbed off on you, I just didn’t realise it until now. I think a little bit of competitiveness is healthy.
What was the first competition the you remember entering? Playing football for the school. When I was 10, I was selected to play for the school. We played against other school teams in the area. It was my first experience of playing competitively with other children and I really enjoyed it. Although I was considered small I was very fit and a good dribbler. I was also being taken to Blackpool as an apprentice footballer; I was told I wasn’t good enough at 15 (too small). That must have been a kick in the teeth, Some of the players that turned out to be the best in the world in there careers were almost all once told, you too small. Zola, Maradona, Messi, Pele.
COMPETITIVENESS IS HEATHY
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Even though you were told that you were too small this didn’t stop you entering other competitions in a variety of sports, why was this the case? I joined the army when I was 16-17 and even though I was too short for something’s, they encouraged me to play all sorts of sports because I was fitter than anybody else. I played only sports for the first few years of the army, It was a good experience but I started to pull out when I wanted to pursue my career. I played everything from Gymnastics to Golf. What was or is the sport you have considered yourself to be best at through the years? Football. As I said I tried to play football but was let go as a 15 year old. I joined the army and for the first year, they had me playing combined services and army football. I stopped after a while but I still turned out for each regiment I was with, playing for a couple of German teams and local amateur teams. I won the army cup with three different clubs it was great.
Is there any reason that you stopped entering so many different types of competitions and just stuck to golf? Yes, I had a major car accident, which curtailed my sporting activities, but also stopped me keeping fit enough to play some of them. With golf you do not need to be too fit. I still have a back condition, but I am able to manage it playing golf. I understand that it must hard for you, I don’t think I would be best pleased, But it’s good that you found Golf to feed the urge to compete. Are there any competitions that you have regreted entering? No. I always enjoyed entering competitions. Everything that came up and I still would if i was able to keep fit.
I WAS FITTER THAN EVERYBODY
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Okay, are there any competitions that you regret not entering? Yes, in my last couple of years in the army, I entered the army golf championships; prior to this I never had the time. I found out, that I was good enough to beat a lot of the players who went every year. I qualified for the last 8 both years, getting beat by the winner the first year and runner up the second and final time. I was also selected to play for the corps team after the singles and won both years. I would like to win that trophy and it is a shame I only started entering so late.
I suppose that a good way of looking at it. During your time winning trophies and coming close even, have you ever noticed your competitiveness going too far? One time playing football in Colchester, I broke my foot, in the first minute of the game, but carried on playing because I thought it was just sprained. When I finally took off my boots my foot and ankle swelled so much I could not put on my shoes. The doctor said I could have damaged it permanently. I was never considered a dirty player, and never imagined hurting anyone to win.
I DON’T NEED TO SEE THEM So, which trophy are you most proud of in your collection you have quite a few? Milne Trophy, which was my first major trophy at a golf club in my first year. I know for a fact that you loved competing and you loved winning the trophies after you were beaming when telling me about them. So, why are your trophies kept in the cupboard away from view? I don’t need to see them to know they are there. Plus I would only get questions if people saw them, and I do not need them to remind myself.
Do you think you will always be competitive? Yes, I would probably race someone even if we both had Zimmer frames. And are there any competitions that you still desperately want to win? Yes, I play golf every Saturday; just winning that would be a start. Monthly medal etc, I will carry on competing as long as I can.
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N E INV
Y R TO
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01
02
BOWLING CHELTENHAM IN 2005
BOWLING BIELEFELD WEST GERMANY IN 1983
HOW DID YOU WIN THE TROPHY? I was playing in the local bowling league from Innsworth were I worked. This day we were playing a top team, we were not considered a good team. However this day we started well were able to keep up with the “Top Gun” team. However because our handicaps were higher than theirs, we won the first two games and if we won the final game we would get the bonus points. The final game started badly for me, but steve thompson was flying and keeping us in the game scoring strike after strike. The final frame we needed to get another strike to win. Steve duly delivered after some barracking from the other team. We got the trophy for having the high score that season.
WHERE IS THE TROPHY NORMALLY KEPT? In a box.
WHAT CAN YOU REMEMBER OF YOUR OPPOSITION? I remember that the team won the whole league that year, and we must have done well to take points off them. Two of the team had a handicap of –20, which meant that they had an average of 220 per game.
HOW DID YOU WIN THE TROPHY? I entered the RAPC bowling championship in 1983, whilst serving in the Bristish Army. The Masters was a qualifying competition at the start, the top 16 qulified for the knockout stages. I came 16th, but I was able to knockout the best player in the first game, I played my best game of the day and he played his worst, and I carried on form to meet the second seed in the final, only losing on the final frame.
WHERE IS THE TROPHY NORMALLY KEPT? In the spare bedroom above the garage.
WHAT CAN YOU REMEMBER OF YOUR OPPOSITION? I remember that he was the second seed because of his scoring throughout the competition. I also remember thinking that he would not be able to carry on hitting the high scores under pressure.
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FOOTBALL THE FALKLAND ISLANDS YEAR UNSURE
GOLF THE ARMY GOLF CLUB, ALDERSHOT HAMPSHIRE IN 1996
HOW DID YOU WIN THE TROPHY?
HOW DID YOU WIN THE TROPHY?
Whilst serving in the army and serving 6 months in the falklands, to keep fit, we organised a football competition. There were 18 teams, two pleliminary rounds and three other rounds. I was serving with the royal engineers of 20 fd squadron. We qualified to play the RAF squadron from the airfield. We won 3-1.
I entered the Army Golf club competition held every month and came 1st three times. The first one is always special because I played with the current champion of the club, and was able to beat him and making birdies at the last four holes, which I had never done before.
WHERE IS THE TROPHY NORMALLY KEPT? In a box in a drawer in the dining room.
WHAT CAN YOU REMEMBER OF YOUR OPPOSITION? I remember thinking that if we beat the RAF squadron that we would be able to wind them up, because we worked with most of them every day at the airfield. Although most of the day is a blur because of the concussion I had from the accident.
WHERE IS THE TROPHY NORMALLY KEPT? In a box in a drawer in the dining room.
WHAT CAN YOU REMEMBER OF YOUR OPPOSITION? The rest of the entrants were other members of the golf club.
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GOLF THE CRADOC GOLF CLUB, WALES IN 1998
GOLF THE CRADOC GOLF CLUB, WALES IN 1998
HOW DID YOU WIN THE TROPHY?
HOW DID YOU WIN THE TROPHY?
Unknown
WHERE IS THE TROPHY NORMALLY KEPT? In a box.
WHAT CAN YOU REMEMBER OF YOUR OPPOSITION? I assume that the other entrants were soldieers from the association, though this event is somewhat of a blur. I thought I only entered once.
I entered the Army Golf association competition held every year and came second. I remember that I was in the last group and on the 17th when the competition secretary came up and said we were running late. He then asked how many points we had scored to see if we were in contention, when we told him he said I needed two points to win on the last. This put me off and only got one, losing on countback. This did not affect the team event, we came second by three points.
WHERE IS THE TROPHY NORMALLY KEPT? In a box in a drawer in the dining room
WHAT CAN YOU REMEMBER OF YOUR OPPOSITION? The rest of the entrants were other soldiers and members of the association.
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GOLF THE CATTERICK GOLF CLUB, CATTERICK, YORKSHIRE IN 1996
GOLF THE ARMY GOLF CLUB, ALDERSHOT HAMPSHIRE IN 1999
HOW DID YOU WIN THE TROPHY?
HOW DID YOU WIN THE TROPHY?
I entered the Army Golf association competition held every year and won that year. I remember that I’d never played there before but was impressed with the course, especially when I birdied the last hole which turned out to the hardest hole on the day. It was a left to right hole which I find hardest to hit a fade, but this day my confidence was up for some reason and I did not think about it, just hit a perfect left to right shot leaving me a good line in to the hole.
I was asked to run the spring 4 Div championships because I had experience at organising events. The reason I remember this one trophy so much, is that I not only ran the event on the day, I came first. I put myself out with a couple of friends and proceeded to try and enjoy the day. After 15 holes it started to rain. But this was no ordinary rain, after two more holes it became eveident that the course was going to be closed. After a two hour delay, we decided we could not go back out. We decided since everyone had played 9 holes the result would be on 9 holes only. That meant that because I had played the best over 9 holes I won.
WHERE IS THE TROPHY NORMALLY KEPT? In the dining room.
WHAT CAN YOU REMEMBER OF YOUR OPPOSITION? All the other contenders were other soldiers and members of the association.
WHERE IS THE TROPHY NORMALLY KEPT? In a box in a drawer in dining room.
WHAT CAN YOU REMEMBER OF YOUR OPPOSITION? The rest of the entrants were other soldiers and members of the 4th Army Division. Although the two players I was playing with, were friends I had chosen to play called Dave Thompson and Bill Threlfall, both who worked at the regiment I was with depot RCT.
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BOWLING THE GLOUCESTER BOWLING LEAGUE IN 2007
GOLF THE SOUTH HEREFORDSHIRE GOLF CLUB IN 2009
HOW DID YOU WIN THE TROPHY?
HOW DID YOU WIN THE TROPHY?
Whilst entreing the Gloucester bowling league played every Tuesday, my team were awarded the highest score including handicaps. This day we were able to score 846 points which is an average of over 210 each, which won us the points for the week.
These medals were awarded for the team and individual when palying the rhyder cup. This is a form of Ryder cup format, were you are either part of the English, Scottish, Irish or rest of world team. The event is a fourball format against the other members of the teams and a point is awarded for beating the other contestants. I was playing as England, against a other members of the club. I remember a lot of the day because I was expected to win against higher handicappers, but this day I struggled for form and was down until the 17th, when hitting my best shot of the day to about two feet and getting the putt, to put me in the lead for the first time. After the 17th I was able to relax and won the final whole as well to ensure a win for England. England won overall and I won the second medal for winning my match and the team.
WHERE IS THE TROPHY NORMALLY KEPT? My Son’s Bedroom.
WHAT CAN YOU REMEMBER OF YOUR OPPOSITION? The rest of the entrants were members of the RAF Innsworth. Two of the players worked for me in the finance department called Steve and Phil and would have been on our team but were pinched by another team, but it felt good when we beat them.
WHERE IS THE TROPHY NORMALLY KEPT? In a box.
WHAT CAN YOU REMEMBER OF YOUR OPPOSITION? I remember having to give 14 shots to Hugh, 12 to Malcolm and 6 to Tom.
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GOLF THE ARMY GOLF CLUB, SENNELAGER, WEST GERMANY IN 1994
GOLF THE SALISBURY GOLF CLUB, SALISBURY, WILTSHIRE IN 1999
HOW DID YOU WIN THE TROPHY?
HOW DID YOU WIN THE TROPHY?
The was a golf competition awarded by the army fire brigade to all serving soldiers entered in the competition. Sennelager is a tree lined course which is considered a tough track. I remember this day because I came second, but more for the hole in one to my collegue on the day, on the sixth hole on a par three. We all saw it go in, but I had never seen a hole in one before and I think we were celebrating more than he was. We also were winding him up all day saying it was going to cost him a lot of money. I was able to enjoy the day and played quite well, scoring four shots under my handicap, birdieing the very last hole.
WHERE IS THE TROPHY NORMALLY KEPT? In a box in a drawer in the dining room.
WHAT CAN YOU REMEMBER OF YOUR OPPOSITION? I mainly remember Paul because of the hole in one, but the rest of the day was a blur. I cannot remember too much of anyone else, just the next day with a sore head.
I entered the Corps championships because I was coming to the end of my time in the army, so I wanted to enter competitions that I had not enough time for before. In this event I came second. I remember this day because it was hot and I holed two of my bunker shots this day, when I had not done that before. I also had a good round speaking to one of my teachers from CIMA, who I had not seen for about five years. He was one of the reasons I became an accountant in the army. I scored quite well in the first nine holes and followed that up with a couple of birdies including a two on the last out of the bunker.
WHERE IS THE TROPHY NORMALLY KEPT? In a box in a drawer in the dining room.
WHAT CAN YOU REMEMBER OF YOUR OPPOSITION? I mainly remember speaking with my tutor on the day. His name was Glyn Morgan and I didn’t realise how much I enjoyed his company until we met on the first hole. I cannot remember the other memebrs of our fourball, because I think I was surprised to see tutor.
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GOLF THE SALISBURY GOLF CLUB, SALISBURY, WILTSHIRE IN 1999
FOOTBALL IN ALDERSHOT BETWEEN 1984 AND 1986
HOW DID YOU WIN THE TROPHY?
HOW DID YOU WIN THE TROPHY?
I entered the Corps championships for the last time and I remember I was playing with some of my friends I had known in the army for a long time. I had played a number of years at Salisbury and this year was glorious weather. I started well with a birdie, but the last four holes start down a hill from the racecourse and I drove the par four 15th hole, although I never got an eagle I was able to get a birdie, which took me ahead of one of my partners for the first time that day. The 16th was another par five which hugged the tree line on the right and is where Ronnie lost his ball, which ended his challenge. I made par and I knew I had a chance if I could birdie the par 4 17th or the par three 18th. I only parred the 17th and although I hit a good shot on the 18th, it ran in to the bunker. I hit a great shot out and left myself a small par putt, but I felt I had left some shots out there. It turned out that I won by one shot.
I used to play a lot of football for the regiments I was with, having played for the corps and army. These trophies are for the six-a side competitions held every year on the army fields in Aldershot. The large trophy was the year that we won, the others are for being runner up, and one for being voted best player.
WHERE IS THE TROPHY NORMALLY KEPT? In the dining room.
WHAT CAN YOU REMEMBER OF YOUR OPPOSITION? All the other contenders were other soldiers
WHERE IS THE TROPHY NORMALLY KEPT? My son’s bedroom.
WHAT CAN YOU REMEMBER OF YOUR OPPOSITION? I knew most of the people from the teams around the regiments and I remember thinking I was playing too much. The HQ 4th Division contested the final against our team 7th Gurkha rifles. They were made up differing tradesmen but we were all Gurkhas and me.
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15 GOLF ALDERSHOT GOLF CLUB IN 1993 HOW DID YOU WIN THE TROPHY? I was serving with 27 regiment RCT as an accountant, when the regiment organised a second golf event. Since I won in April they invited me to play again. The event was held at the army golf club aldershot. This event was the winter event and I came second. Todd dawson who I worked with won the event beating me on the last hole with a birdie, which revesed the event from earlier in the year. He too was a member of the golf club.
WHERE IS THE TROPHY NORMALLY KEPT? In a box in a drawer in the dining room.
WHAT CAN YOU REMEMBER OF YOUR OPPOSITION? I played with Todd and a guy called Peter Smalling, peter played off a handicap of 15, but was never in the running for scratch prize.
VARIOUS VARIOUS DECANTERS 1980’s - PRESENT HOW DID YOU WIN THE TROPHIES? Over the years I have been playing Golf there have been numerous trophies won that I don’t remember. They were obviosuly from less important tournaments to me as I don’t remember them, but victories all the same.
WHERE ARE THE TROPHIES NORMALLY KEPT? In a box in a drawer in the dining room.
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THE
O V FA
E T I UR
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THE MILNE TROPHY GOLF SENNELAGER GOLF CLUB, WEST GERMANY IN 1984. HOW DID YOU WIN THE TROPHY? I was serving 45 field regiment in Paderborn West Germany and was a member of the Sennelager Golf Club. This was the first major trophy that I won at the club. This is THE trophy. I won it with my best ever round around Sennelager and haven’t scored as well ever again. I shot a score of 69 gross, which is a score before taking off my handicap and a net score of 60. I was hitting the ball so well I pretty much remember every shot because it is a good memory of mine. I started well with a couple of easy pars, but I had a good feeling all the way round. I nearly had a hole in one on the 10th, and had three birdies in row. It felt like I didn’t want the round to stop and even when I thought I should get nervous for having a good score, I just felt calm and happy. I won by 8 shots, when the weather was foul, but its funny the one thing I couldn’t remember was that the weather wasn’t good on the day because I was having a good time.
CAN YOU REMEBER ANY CONVERSATIONS YOU HAD WITH THE OTHERS PLAYERS? I remember a lot of talking with Dave Parson and Tom Scully, my partners for the day, who kept saying that I had a good score and that I should try and keep the shots going. They were trying to keep me in the moment and helping me keep it going. Afterwards they kept saying it was the best they had ever seen someone play and likened it to being perfect and like a pro. I felt great and spent quite a lot of time in the clubhouse after.
WHERE IS THE TROPHY NORMALLY KEPT? In a box in the dining room.
WHAT CAN YOU REMEMBER OF YOUR OPPOSITION? I remember a lot of talking with Dave Parson and Tom Scully, my partners for the day. They both didn’t have a good day but that didn’t stop them being happy for me on the day.
WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT SPURRED YOU ON, MORE THAN USUAL DURING THE CONTEST? IF SO WHAT WAS THAT? I don’t think there was anything that spurred me on, I just felt something good was going to happen and I just felt it.
WHAT DID YOU SAY WHEN RECEIVING THE TROPHY? That I was proud and honoured to receive it. It was a great achievement.
IF YOU COULD DESCRIBE WINNING THE TROPHY IN ONE WORD, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Ecstatic
LIKE A PRO
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