"I started playing Rugby in the army aged 21, swiftly moving from wing to almost every position in the pack before finding my niche as loose head prop.

I played at unit level before joining Kent Police in 1981 and playing for Kent Police on Wednesday afternoons and Dover on Saturdays, mostly second team. With the police I played with some excellent players from around the County including our own Gareth Rice, Andy Trotter and Taff Gwyllam who now coaches Medway and Kent at some level.

I captained the East Kent Police team for a couple of years playing against Jimmy and Les Davis among others. I can honestly say that I was never allowed to leave Cowdray Square sober EVER!

I got posted to Maidstone and joined Linton where I enjoyed playing around the County. I do particularly remember the showers at Western Road ( not fondly).

I packed the game in at 40 after damaging discs at work. At 50 after joining Deal Wanderers RFC as a social member I started coaching the ladies and girls teams by default. This led to playing for the thirds and vets again for a while until a knee injury intervened and signalled the end of playing days.

I became an active committee member before becoming a director and then Chairman of Deal Wanderers where I led the amalgamation with Betteshanger. I stayed on as chairman of our new club until it had settled in as a new entity.

I am very proud of the members of both clubs who have made us a new club which Deal needed. The directors under Ted Schofield are progressive and are driving necessary improvements to the Club.
I intend to represent the Club without any regard to the past. We are Deal Lions and my job is to present the best of our Club to the outside world and other Clubs who we meet.
On a personal level I will be supporting the first team at home and away as much as I can. I also want the club to tour regularly.
I also fully support our Junior section , they are our future and all junior coaches have my support. This is going to be an exciting year both on and off the pitch."

Yours in rugby,

Paul Crook.