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The 2010/11 season has been one of the finest in the Club's 91 year history. Fylde won the championship of National Two (North) at a canter. The bare statistics hardly tell the story although they are compelling: 26 wins out of 30 games played, 1259 points scored at an average of 42 per game, 192 tries, 26 try scoring bonus points (more than any other club in the top four levels of English rugby), and a sequence of 17 wins in 18 games from the beginning of December to the end of April.
More important than all of these numbers have been the style of play and the mind-set of the players. The high profile arrival of former England Head Coach Brian Ashton and cross code legend Jason Robinson helped to galvanise the whole squad. The input of these two globally known personalities gave Head Coach Mark Nelson the confidence to preach an all out attacking philosophy which worked in terms of both winning matches and in a style that brought many lapsed supporters back to the Woodlands.
Nelson paid a suitable tribute to Ashton when he said that he is 'a coaching genius'. In fact, the squad was very similar in make-up as that of 2009/10 when the club finished a dismal 9th in the division. Crucially, it was strengthened by the judicious recruitment of a totemic lock forward (Paul Arnold), three talented and durable props (Tom Lavelle, Alistair Livesey & Tony Thoma) and a creative midfield (Stephen Briers and, in the 2nd half of the season, Steve Collins).
Interestingly, the new style and philosophy rejuvenated established squad members who excelled in this environment. Players such as hooker Jonny Roddam, back-five forwards Grant Ferguson & Nick King, flankers Mark Stephenson & Steve McGinnis, scrum-half Martin Wallwork and inspirational utility back Richard Kenyon had the season of their lives.
Younger and highly talented players responded too in fine fashion – centre Mike Waywell had a fantastic campaign and earned England Counties honours at the end of it. Prop Peter Altham flourished as did the even rawer talent of John Wells, Alisdair Sutherland, Cameron Thompson, Dan Madden & Jack Ward when they were asked to take on supporting roles. Through it all the devastating strike power of wingers Oliver Brennand and Nick Royle could always be relied on roast opposing defenders – a combined 53 tries in 52 appearances.
The influence and experience of Jason Robinson, the complete professional in everything he did for the Club on and off the field, - 2,400 supporters turned up to see his debut - and Paul Arnold were also inspirational.
But most of all the team could rely on skipper Sam Beaumont who set the tempo with measured leadership, intelligence and durability – he played every minute of the campaign bar the first 50 minutes against Preston Grasshoppers after his England Counties debut in Dublin the previous evening. He also earned Barbarians honours along with his tyro young brother Josh & Paul Arnold.
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