Rugby manager becomes club's oldest-ever player
Andy Micklethwaite- Norwich Rugby Club manager David Bailey is thought to be its oldest-ever player, aged 54
- He came on as a prop in Saturday's 45-31 away defeat to Chelmsford after two of his players' cars broke down on the way to the match
- He said he was oldest member of his team "by at least 20 years" and that none of his teammates was born when he first started playing for Norwich in 1987, aged 18
A 54-year-old rugby manager who was forced to play after two of his players' cars broke down on the way to the match said he was "just doing his bit for the club".
David Bailey, manager of Norwich Rugby Club's 1st XV, came on as a prop in the closing minutes of their 45-31 away loss to Chelmsford.
He said it "dawned" on him that he would be forced to play after realising that he was the only other registered player on the team.
Mr Bailey is thought to be the oldest player in the club's 130-year history.
"I'd like to point out that we didn't concede a point after I came on the pitch," Mr Bailey laughed.
"And even though we lost, it cheered up the boys. Many of them said 'I’d always wanted to play alongside you.'"
David BaileyMr Bailey, from Blakeney, Norfolk, first started playing for Norwich in 1987 at the age of 18.
He has been the club's manager for the past three years, having previously coached at Gresham's School in Holt.
In Saturday's game, Mr Bailey was the oldest member of his team by at least 20 years.
"No-one on the team had been born when I first started playing for Norwich," he said.
"I had to try and remember what I was doing but it was nice to play for one last time."
Norwich play in the Regional 2 Anglia league of the London and South East Division.
They are currently second from bottom.
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