Chester announce new Head Coach.
Chester Romans have appointed a new
coach ahead of their next season; they have appointed their successful youth
team coach, Alan Winters who recently guided the Chester Romans Youth to glory
at the Festival of Football. Having watched the senior team from the
sidelines he now gets his opportunity to turn the team’s fortunes around. For
those who aren’t familiar with Alan’s background I asked him how he got into
the sport.
“I got interested in American Football
in the 70’s when the highlights were shown on World of Sport on ITV.
Channel 4 then started showing it in 1982 and I saw in one of the local papers
that a team was being formed in Basingstoke. I went and joined and that
was that. We started off as the Basingstoke Cavaliers and became the Hampshire
Cavaliers. I played centre, defensive line and linebacker. Whilst I
was with the Cavaliers I started coaching the linemen. I then started coaching
the Basingstoke Ironsides, the Cavaliers youth team. This I did on my
own. Jason Walker, present Chester Roman, was one of the lads that joined
the team. The Ironsides then went up to the senior side leaving me
without a team, so I decided to play out my career with the Newbury
Bandits. I had my last game just after my 40th Birthday in
1994. I moved on and coached the Winchester Rifles from scratch and took
them through their first season in the League. We had an impressive 8-2
or 9-1 season, despite this they decided to replace me with an American coach
and that was my lot for a while. Then my son Jon wanted to play so we
contacted the Romans. Mark Staker and GM Richard Colin asked me to coach
the junior/Youth side which is what I did. The first year we won nothing,
last year we played 8 and won 7 including the Festival of Football in Redditch,
where my son Jon was voted player of the tournament. Since then I have
been asked to become the Head Coach of the Romans Senior team, a position I
have accepted.”
When asked what influence he thinks he will
have on the team he answered, “I hope to have a positive influence on the
senior team and am looking forward to the challenge. I believe that they
have the potential to play better than they did for the last two seasons,
however I don’t expect us to go to BritBowl in my first year. I intend to
set some reasonable targets for the team. I am really looking forward to
the challenge and will take this opportunity with both hands and give it my
all. I would expect the team to do the same.”
The Romans will be holding open days at
Chester Rugby Club in Hare Lane over two Sundays, those being the 9th
and 16th November, anyone wishing to try out the sport or return to
it are more than welcome to come down and become a part of the Romans. The
Youth team are currently for ages 14 – 18 and senior team 18 plus. The team
will provide all equipment / kit.
Finally I asked Coach Winters what
advice he would give to anyone wishing to try the sport, “My advice to anyone who
would like to come and try out for the Romans is come to one of our open days
in November. We have positions to suit all comers; we will be able to
find a position for most people. Even if you don’t want to play, come
down and help the club out. There are many positions off the field where
we need help, especially on game day. The Romans are a great bunch of
lads and will do all they can to make you feel welcome.”
Image courtesy of Chester Romans.