This post is going to be a little different. I am hoping to share some funny memories and a little bit of history regarding the Valkyries. The reason I feel a post is necessary is simply because there are not enough words to be able to express my gratitude and respect to a specific person. Don’t worry, she isn’t dead or anything, but she has announced that she is ready to hang up her boots and support the team from the sidelines.
Where do I begin. As you know I didn’t pick up a ball until I was 34. At that first taster session in 2021 I encountered a particular woman who was clearly very experienced, fit, loud and passionate about the game. At first I found her quite intimidating. As you know I am a turtle but as I watched her from afar it was impossible to not be inspired.
During those initial summer training sessions as we were getting to know the game and each other, she was there encouraging each and every one of us to back ourselves. Imparting her knowledge, experience and throwing in the odd sly call of “take a knee” so we could sneak in a water break to catch our breath.
As the weeks passed bonds were formed. Soon enough the 12th December 2021 came around and it was time for the Valkyries to play their debut game. She had been selected, by popular vote, to be our captain and led us out on to that pitch.
In the changing room that day nerves were running rampant. Within our team, I think there were only five women who had actually played rugby before. The rest of us were complete novices. As we stood there huddled together in our new kit, she made us look around at each other, take a breath and take it all in. The belief and pride that she instilled in that group of women with the words “Today you become rugby players, you become a Valkyrie, as soon as you step over that white line you become a rugby player, you join an elite group of men and women across the world” is immeasurable. There was a lot more to the speech, however, that was the part that lit the fire in my belly to go out there and give it my all.
We didn’t win but it didn’t matter, we had done it, we had played our first game and we had left everything out on that pitch. The elation and pride felt within that group when the final whistle blew is indescribable. We had become a part of history within a club that already had a history spanning 137 years.
The next game that comes to mind was an away game that was played on a bog. We were told it was a pitch but I beg to differ. Anyway, in that game the first ever Valkyries try was scored by none other than our captain. Again, by leading from the front and showing us how to do it, she gave us more confidence in our abilities, even as we watched her being led vibrating from the field, with great reluctance I must add, to be wrapped in a foil blanket to combat the onset of hypothermia.
After every game she would check in with everyone. She made sure everyone was ok. If you were being hard on yourself because you made a mistake, or felt you could have done better, she had a way of making you snap out of it and rebuilding your confidence ready for the next game.
Occasionally she didn’t provide the best example to follow on a pitch. The first cup game that the team played was against some good cornish stock who were much more established than we were at the time. They cut through us like butter. Anyway, when the opposition scored their first try of the game, approximately five minutes after the whistle blew, our captain was stood in the huddle near the posts giving a pep talk when she got knocked out by the ball coming through the posts for the conversion. Of course, she was promptly removed from the game, despite her protestations, and safely situated in a chair at the side of the pitch. Or so you would think, it turns out it wasn’t the safest place for our dear capitan who fell victim to a second errant ball hitting her for a second time.
I asked some of my team mates, past and present, for some of their favourite memories of time spent with this lady. The main themes have been cheating playing touch, winding up the opposition, but the main consensus amongst everyone has been that you are our literal rugby hero.
Since those first encounters a lot has changed. I am still playing but I wanted to become more involved with the club so I began coaching or assisting with age grade rugby. Prior to making that decision I sought out this lady’s advice. After all, she has been there, done it and got multiple t-shirts to prove it. Consistently over the past few years her advice has been “back yourself” and “believe in yourself”. As we know that is easier said than done for me however, whenever she uttered those words it lifted me up and gave me the inspiration to persevere and push myself that little bit further.
I met privately with this lady to discuss other options to be involved in the game as I too was considering hanging up my boots. If I’m honest the thought occurs to me most weeks after a game, normally on a Tuesday morning, however, it’s usually been dismissed by Tuesday evening as my body starts to feel better. Either it feels better or grows numb to the pain, I am not sure which and it isn’t relevant. On this particular occasion I could not shrug off this thought that I was done and wanted to do something different. So I rang this lady, we met up for a coffee and a chat. I had not told her about my musings however, the first thing she said when she sat down was “your not retiring, you have too much to offer”. Now while I am not convinced that is still the case, at that time it was what I needed to hear.
Since then she has given me endless guidance regarding coaching etc and her advice and opinions are still as invaluable today as they were then.
I owe this person a huge amount. Without her I would not be playing. Without her I would not have started coaching. Without her I would not have embarked on a refereeing course. Without her there is a good chance I would still be searching for a place to belong. There is a good chance I would still just be the boy or the girl’s mum. I am not just simply their mum anymore, I exist as my own person, referred to by my own name rather than a title and the desire, passion and joy I have discovered within this sport is indescribable.
That is why a simple thank you is not sufficient. If this person happens to read this, I hope you will know who you are, I hope that you realise just how much of an impact you have had on not only the team but on the individuals that made that team. The culture you cultivated within this team is from the beginning, I believe, unmatched.
Personally, I will never be able to truly express the gratitude I feel having had the opportunity to play alongside you nor will I be able to express how privileged I feel to be able to call you my friend. Thank you for the unyielding support and I hope to catch you in the bar after a game someday soon for a pint.
Mumma Bear Roars 