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First published in Great Britain in 2003
Copyright © Bill Beaumont 2003, 2004
Geoff Green asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
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Source ISBN: 9780007156702
Ebook Edition © JULY 2017 ISBN: 9780008271114
Version: 2017-07-18
To my wife Hilary and our sons Daniel, Sam and Josh.
Thank you for your support and encouragement and
for selflessly providing me with the opportunity to do a lot
of things I wouldn’t, otherwise, have been able to do.
CONTENTS
One Childhood, school and family life
Seven A brain discovered … and damaged!
I was delighted to accept Bill’s invitation to write the foreword for his autobiography.
Bill had a huge influence on my international career. He was captain when I made my debut for England against Ireland in January 1980, the same year he led England so brilliantly to the Grand Slam, England’s first for 23 years.
On the day I replaced Tony Bond, who was very unfortunate to break his leg on what was an otherwise enjoyable afternoon. To win your first cap, as Tony and Bill would testify, is a great feeling and one of Bill’s strengths as captain was to make the new caps feel welcome. I was fortunate to play in the remaining three games of the 1980 Grand Slam and they are memories that will always stay with me.
Bill captained England a further 11 times with me in the side and his influence on the team was huge. He was inspirational and a very good leader. To survive the slaughtering he received from his team-mates, including me, when he was ignored during his half-time team talk against Australia, while we were all distracted by a young lady called Erica Roe running across the sacred turf of Twickenham, showed his true mettle!
In total Bill played 34 times for England, 33 of them consecutively and on seven occasions for the British Lions on two tours to New Zealand and South Africa, the latter as captain. He stayed loyal to his club Fylde and retired prematurely at the age of 29 when surely further honours would have followed.
Once a player retires, it’s often difficult to make the move from sport to business but Bill has made the transition effortlessly.
Bill’s achievements on the field of play have been matched off it. An OBE in 1982, a successful career in broadcasting, notably A Question of Sport, and running a profitable textiles business, endorse his versatility and commerce skills. Bill has also remained dedicated to rugby. He is one of two RFU representatives on the International Rugby Board and earlier this year he was made Chairman of the British and Irish Lions Committee, underlining the worldwide respect for a man who has given so much to the game.
Enjoy the book, it contains the life of an extraordinary man and one whom I’m proud to call a friend.