We're continuing to shine the spotlight on a different member each week, despite not being able to see each other at the clubhouse for a while. We hope you learn a new name, or something you didn't already know if you do recognise our featured members! This week we have...

Name: Bob Richardson

Playing position: "2nd Row for 1st XV. Prior to my move to Penrith in 1976, I played for Moresby in West Cumberland, brought up in a school of hard knocks is one of the nicest things I can say about the group of players who looked after me in my formative years. The first props I had as a young 2nd row included Jackie Moffat and Jimmy Cleaver. I was so pleased that I was on the same side as this duo. Jimmy Cleaver made Moresby history a few years ago when he turned out for the 1st XV as a prop and played the full game."

How many years have you been involved with Penrith RUFC?
"My first season at Penrith was the 1977/1978 season. At the first training session to my surprise Gordon Salkeld was the 1st XV Captain who I’d gone to school with in Cleator Moor.

In subsequent years I was Vice Captain for Mike Wilson, Tom Hurst (also from West Cumberland) and Graham Robertson.

During Mike Wilsons’s tenure as Captain we turned up one New Year’s day at Keswick to horizontal rain and a howling gale, in the changing room everyone was muttering about the conditions when Mike produced a huge tub of Udder Cream which he proceeded to lather himself in and went on to have man of the match performance never feeling any ill effects at all.

After finishing playing for the 1st XV, I went on to play for the Vags, which was the 3rd XV. This was generally for players like myself who had given up the competitive aspects of rugby and just wanted a game on a Saturday. The Vags was an excellent stepping stone for the Colts and U21’s to play adults while being looked after in a way they didn’t feel intimidated by bigger and stronger opposition. A very youthful David Potts had his first senior game for the Vags debuting as a prop at Whitehaven.

Club positions: 1st Team Coach with Mike “Spike” Arragon, U21 Coach with Mike “Spike” Arragon, Colts Coach with John "Choc" Siddle and a committee man in 80's.

Bob recalled, "During my time coaching the 1st XV with Spike we achieved the impossible and defeated Kendal away in the County Cup to reach the Final, one of the most exhilarating days of my life. We subsequentially lost to Aspatria in the Final despite leading at half-time.

The Final had some standout moments which include the Famous late tackle by prop Peter Newton on the Aspatria fly-half Tommy Borthwick to be followed by Shaun Silson breaking the defence with the line at his mercy to trip up. Peter claimed afterwards he had got there as quick as he could.

We had success with the U21’s winning the County Cup against Carlisle at Wigton, a very eventful night was had when Blues nightclub opened for us to celebrate.

Coaching with Choc was an exceptional time at Penrith with the abundance of talented players we had at our disposal, but we only won the County Cup once at Workington. Most of those players got County caps and went on to be the mainstay of the 1st XV for quite a few years."

What do you enjoy most about Penrith RUFC?
"Penrith is a family club, when I first started playing at Penrith most players’ wives or girlfriends became part of the Ladies' Committee who cooked the after match meals every Saturday and all brought children with them, we have lost the Ladies' Committee but we still have families at the club every weekend."

What do you hope to see Penrith RUFC achieve next season?
"I hope that we have enough players so the 1st and 2nd teams can fulfil all fixtures in that season."

What is your fondest memory of Penrith RUFC?
"Memories of Penrith Rugby are immense. Playing 2nd row at Keswick with my old 2nd row partner Charles Graves and my Grandson Bradley Adams at No 8 on New Year’s Day 2019.

Organising with Brian Hardy the 1979 Easter trip to the Isle of Man Rugby Festival, we took a team to play in tournament and a Colts team who all became young men who went on to play for Penrith 1st XV, that weekend Dave Walker got his nickname "Woody", the now famous I'O song was wrote and we performed the song as we left pubs on our knees.

Finally, the friendships and visits which have occurred since Penrith Australia played at Penrith when Spike and I coached the 1st XV, from this players have gone from the UK and played in Penrith Australia and we have hosted some of their players, some of us even played in Barcelona for the Penrith Legless Emus in the European Golden Oldies Tournament. From Penrith (UK) was Mark Graham, David Snaith, myself and the one and only Brian Morton. Also, the World Golden Oldies in Cardiff. The Penrith (UK) players included David Snaith, Sean Voght and myself. Penrith (UK) players scored all the points that day, Snaithy or Sean never passed to me, still haven’t forgiven them.

Numerous players from the very first tour have come back to Penrith on visits, Kenny and Sue Rylands have hosted the majority of the groups over the years and we both still have friends who come over, the last being Warren Walsh (Walshy) in August 2019.

My daughter Vicki Nelmes has carried on the tradition of playing, she is a member of Kendal Wasps and has also played for Cumbria over the last two seasons."