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The Friaragmen’s Head Coach will be Jonathan Wrigley who will be assisted by Craig Lee and John Dixon as backs and forwards coaches respectively.
Wrigley came through the junior set up at the Friarage to make the first team and then captain the side before making a shock move to deadly rivals West Hartlepool. He then joined a West exodus to Middlesbrough and subsequently moved to Mowden Park before switching back to West View Road and playing a key role in Brian Robinson’s Durham Northumberland One championship winning side.
The choice of Wrigley’s assistants is quite interesting. Craig Lee took over the coach’s role after Rovers parted company with Kevin Westgarth last November and after a spell of mixed results he seemed to have turned the side’s fortunes around with a sequence of wins that almost saw the Whites stave off relegation and which took them to the final of the Durham Intermediate Cup.
Lee had to run the ship on his own, a very difficult task, and, with a backs coaching remit, he will be hoping to bring his vast experience and knowledge to bear on what was, generally, an underperforming area last season. With the likes of the Foreman brothers and one of last season’s signings Mark Shires in the threequarters, given the right supply of ball there is the potential to play some running and try scoring rugby.
John Dixon, like Wrigley, played a massive part in West’s climb to the top level of the league pyramid before moving to Acklam Park to finish his playing career. He brings a wealth of knowledge of forward play and which has helped shape his son Tom’s career to date. As with Lee and the backs, Dixon will have some talent in the pack with whom to work with the likes of former skipper Mark Power, player of the year Darren Smith, Simon Hall, Michael Tucker and Durham County duo Stuart Palmer and Michael Taylor.
All three men know the potential that exists at the Friarage but are also aware of the challenge that D&N 1 will bring.
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Author: pikey
Date: 12-06-08 15:47
another westie, SCH will be over the moon.
welcome to west hartlepool rovers john.
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Author: Robok
Date: 12-06-08 15:59
Always gunna be hard to get someone who HASNT been involved with another club from Hartlepool. Looks a great combination lets look forward to a new and hopefully great season :-)
MIGHTY 3RDS
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Author: Random Task
Date: 12-06-08 18:24
looks like a strong set up, hopefully this will be the beginning of good times back at the friarage. the john dixon appointment was a big surprise though, hopefully he'll have a good effect on a potentially strong pack
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Author: Andy Quinn
Date: 12-06-08 18:38
best of luck with the coming season and i am sure Chigser will do well and no doubt Big John Dixon will certainly command respect from the forwards
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Author: West Fan
Date: 12-06-08 18:45
Good Luck to the new coaching set up. All good players in their time, genuine rugby men with a vast amount of experience.
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Author: Front Row Leg-end
Date: 12-06-08 18:47
I'm over the moon to have Chigser back involved. He was a great influence on me in our promotion season.
Welcome to John also who is quite literally a massive personality/
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Author: Rover til I die
Date: 29-06-08 19:52
Great appointments! Let's hope the BIG 3 can restore some much needed pride and fitness to a team with stacks of potential.
Time will tell, but the players have to play their part by getting themselves fit and attending all training sessions. The coaches cannot do much if the lads don't turn up to hear their pearls of wisdom and practise vital skills both in forward and back situations.
The team is still a few players short in vital areas. A couple of astute signings wouldn't go amiss!!
Best of luck to all players and coaches. I am sure eveything will work out nicely.
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