Rugby coach who brought success to Colts team dies

A FORMER coach at Henley Rugby Club has died, aged 86.

Adrian “Adi” Garside, from Watlington, who was heavily involved in several areas of the club, passed away on December 21.

As a player, he moved from Marlow Rugby Club and became 2nd XV captain at Henley as well as enjoying a few runouts with the 1st team.

Mr Garside’s work as a self-employed landscaper made him a natural fit for the role of head groundsman at the club for many years.

One achievement he was particularly proud of was ensuring the club’s Colts team always had first option to play on the main pitch when the first XV were away, which undoubtedly gave him an extra incentive to ensure the pitch was in top condition.

It was as head coach of the Colts for which he will be most fondly remembered. He built a team culture of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship several decades before the RFU adopted these as English rugby’s values.

Mr Garside made the team that every junior was keen to be a part of. His coaching style was enjoyed to such an extent that, after graduating to adult rugby, many players offered to “have a good shave” in the hope that they might once again experience his company on the pitch.

His coaching skills were brought to bear at county level when he coached the Oxfordshire Colts over several seasons in the Nineties but it was the successes of his Henley Colts teams which brought him the greatest satisfaction.

His teams dominated rugby in Oxfordshire in the early Nineties, winning the Colts County Cup in 1990, 1991 and 1993 as well as being runners-up in 1992.

Until recently, when poor health sadly took its toll, Mr Garside could often be seen on the touchline watching the Hawks compete on the same pitch that he used to maintain.

It is a testament to the impact he had on players at the club that such a large number of them returned to Dry Leas on November 4 for a pre-match lunch under the banner of “Garside’s Heroes”.

In the heady days when community rugby clubs would rock more frequently into a Saturday evening to the sounds of teams celebrating wins or hard-fought losses, a good team song would invariably be at the top of the order of events.

Mr Garside could always be found at the heart of the singing action before quietly slipping away.

One song would become the trademark of every Garside Colts team and so, in the spirit of that anthem, “Goodnight Mr Fisherman”.

The club has offered its thoughts and deepest condolences to his wife Penny and the whole Garside
family.

Mr Garside’s funeral will be held at St Leonard’s Church in Watlington Thursday at 11.30am. Afterwards, a wake will be held at the rugby club.