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Chris Tickle joined Eccles RFC as a 15-year-old along with school friend Ross Seward and became part of coach Dave Nicholls’ Junior team which went on to become one of Eccles’s major Colts teams, winning their league and Plate competition in their final year as Colts. While the following nine years saw the team mature and pursue varying careers, in which some players moved away to university, jobs or training, the team has an inexplicable and undeniably impressive bond which will always remain.
Upon entering the adult game Chris gravitated to the second and third teams as his emphasis tended more to the social side of the game. Recently, frequent appearances at pre-season training this season meant a more regular place on the seconds. Chris’s presence as a social figure at the club began with Colts weekends away, which carried through to summer holidays abroad as a team with 18 players creating chaos and fun. Chris’s character is emphasised by him, along with his mates, taking their wheelchair-using pal John Hallsworth on all these trips.
Chris will be remembered particularly for his humour, but largely for being a genuine and decent person, more than ready to give a helping hand.
Having spent his time since leaving Eccles College doing both construction and bar management work, most recently at the Barton Arms in Worsley, a boundlessly positive and determined Chris was truly looking forward to starting at Salford University this month on a Construction and Property Course. Chris was wholeheartedly set on his career in Construction, so much so that, even after his serious injury three weeks ago, he had asked his parents to organise his deferment for a year and to that end his parents had enrolled him on next year’s course the day before he died.
All last Saturday’s adult games were cancelled as a mark of respect but all Club members met as usual at 1.00 pm in Club shirts and ties paying their respects on the field at 3.00 pm, along with Chris’s dad and other family members. All league games around the North West, and beyond, also held a minutes silence at 3.00 pm before kicking off.
Chris, an only child, will be greatly missed by his family, Emma, all members of Eccles RFC along with friends and colleagues everywhere.
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