Combe Down RFC

Nige joined us after playing for Avon & Bath and he quickly settled into our style of play. Equally happy at fly half or fullback he was safe under the high ball, a sound defence. But, OH MY in attack, what a WICKED side step.  Coming into the line on Al Jenks and myself shoulders, just a little call to us and it nearly always resulted in tries for the wingers. Plus he was also a very sound goal kicker when needed. He captained the club with authority and a calmness which at times was called for !!!

You only have to look at the honours board in the clubhouse to see the numerous posts that Nige held over the years to realise the amount of work and effort he put in off the field. Maybe we don't realise enough the work that goes on behind the scenes to keep the playing side going. Nigel certainly did more than his fair share over the years

Perhaps the one thing that members may not have realised, back in the mid 90's, when the English RFU and Somerset RFU,  in their misguided wisdom, decided to punish us with relegation down the leagues. Pat, Colleen, Myself but mainly Nigel fought like hell to overturn the ruling. Nige even went to Twickenham to plead our case but sadly they wouldn't budge.

We could have folded as a club then but Colleen and Pat, on the finance side, and myself and Nige working to keep the rugby side going. Luckily we survived!

You may ask why I mention this now but at our last reunion in December, Nige brought it up and we spoke about it at length and I said people ought to know what he did.  I have never had any doubt that this club owes a great debt to Nigel for fighting so hard to keep us going in those dark days!

A man who loved his family, his various holidays abroad and who will be sadly missed but not forgotten.

Condolences from all at Combe Down.

I only use the term GOAT for the very best of Combe Down players but it certainly applied to Nigel as a player and also for his work off the field 

RIP Nige

Wyn Bailey