Welcome to the club.

 

After the game, which his new side had won handsomely, with a blistering first half performance and a resolute rearguard action in the second, cheered on by the raucous away supporters and their incessant singing of a lyric from a tune by Waylon Jennings if Dick wasn’t mistaken. Dick had expected to be glad handed by some of the club's top brass, but there was no one to be seen.

He left the team to celebrate, it was their win, not his and went to look for Clarence, as he was the only club 'representative' he knew of in Kemp Town. He found him in the car park with his head under the bonnet of the Cortina

"I am terribly sorry but the old girl has conked out again." Clarence said, apologetically.

 

"That's no problem. I'll go back on the coach with the side. Will you be alright?" Dick replied.

 

"I'm sure they will have quite a reception committee there to greet you all. What a fabulous win that was." Clarence chortled.

 

"I'm surprised there was no one here with the team." Dick said.

 

"Truth is, I don't think they were expecting you. I only got a call late last night to come and drive you down. They were all tied up with club business. 'Clearing the Decks' was all Noel said. But, he is a man of few words, as you will find out. They were probably just making sure that everything is ready for you, I suppose." Clarence shrugged and waved Dick away "Everything will be fine."

 

The coach ride back up to Oxford was quite lively, with a palpable sense of relief in the air. Nearly all the team felt they had given a good account of themselves on the pitch and improved their chances of featuring in Dick's starting XV next season. Dick saw no reason to say otherwise, though some had impressed more than others.

 

Abe Bunclarke, the club's record signing, was revelling in his newly acquired nickname of 'Shark' after his three first half interceptions, that had led to two tries for Carl 'Luigi' Bulluck on the right wing and one for Adrian 'Nosebag' Nares on the left. Mbulelo 'Swan Lake' Sonemann had scored twice as well, but he seemed less excited than many others in the group, perhaps because he had been subbed at half time. Boom 'Flight Risk' Fisk had played a blinder and was the life and soul of the party, as, Dick assumed, was always the case. Ernestus 'Del' Shannon had led from the front all day and he looked tired but was still laughing and joking along with the rest of them. The journey passed quickly and before he knew it they had arrived at Good Old Boy Park.

 

It was not the spanking new stadium that he had hoped for, but a hotch potch of stands, that in truth, looked a bit shabby. Even, in the dark.

 

Waiting for him, as he stepped down from the coach, were three men.

 

The first, a burly figure who clearly would have been a useful player in his younger days, but now was slightly hunched at the shoulders, with the passing of the years, stepped forward. He grabbed Dick's hand in both of his, shaking it, with a little too much vigour for Dick's liking, saying "How wonderful to finally meet you and welcome to Good Old Boy Park home of Oxford Outlaws RUFC. Your new home. May I introduce, Noel Bott-Saynowt, Club Secretary."

 

The serious looking, dark haired man just nodded and offered his hand.

 

"And this is Les Rollright-Hohns, Operations Director."

 

The perma tanned man, flashed an incredibly bright white set of teeth, in a well practised smile and greeted Dick.

 

"Very pleased to meet you and congrats on flying out of the blocks this afternoon. A1. This larger than life old rogue is, of course, Gene Eale-Stolwut. Club Chairman, legend in his own lifetime and terrible at introducing himself."

 

"Less of that, thank you very much, Les."

 

"Just joking Gene. Everyone knows who you are around here, no need to introduce yourself. Right Dick? Sorry we couldn't make it to the game today but it's all hands on deck around here at the moment. Got to get used to quite a few changes, not least the arrival of our 'new' coach from New Zealand. Let's hope that you have brought plenty of that zeal with you and it certainly looks like it from today's result. We'll be flying back up the leagues in no time. You have caught us a little bit on the hop though, so I will apologise for the accommodation in advance. It's only temporary, we were not expecting you for another week or two and I'll get it sorted out asap. Must have been some crossed wires between here and" he gestured towards Dick as if searching for a word.

 

"Whanganui" said Dick.

 

"Wow. 'The Wizard of Whanganui'. Piers is going to love this." He wheeled away reaching for his phone.

 

"Excuse Les. He works at nothing less than one hundred miles an hour, phenomenal Ops man. Best in the business. Now, let's get inside and get you a drink." Gene put an arm round Dick's shoulders and ushered him inside.