I played cricket for all seven years that I was at school.
In that time I am almost certain that I didn’t receive any formal coaching. Nor
did I have a single session in the cricket nets that existed in large numbers
round the school site. So it is fair to say that “sport for all” wasn’t a
philosophy that St Albans School supported. The same can be said for both rugger
and hockey – no attempt was made to develop my interest or skills in these team
games. If anything tennis was even worse run because there was little or no
attempt made even to supervise the pupils. Providing you were physically
present that was enough for the PE Department.
Looking back this was a curious omission because sport was
taken very seriously by the Head Teacher. We had entire afternoons devoted to
sport and the school teams achieved a number of notable successes at both local
and regional level. I really would have to question how carefully the pool of available
talent was examined by the school staff. While playing rugger I was top scorer
for three consecutive years – playing loose-head prop forward of all positions!
– without getting any recognition from the “powers that be”.
It was much the same with the Field Centre in south Wales that
swallowed up vast amounts of staff time and school money. It was endlessly being promoted and boasted
about by senior staff despite the fact that many students never visited the wretched
place. A few of my year visited it half a dozen times – wearing a whole range of
different hats – but not one of my closest friends ever darkened its door!
