TLA Sport

with Roger Jackson Please email full details to sport@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Philip Langley can surely claim to be one of the world’s oldest mascots.

That’s because earlier this season, at the grand age of 80, he was Coney Hill’s mascot for their Counties 2 Gloucestershire North game at home to Rosson-Wye.

And while that was pretty impressive, what is even more remarkable is that this day came 75 years after he was mascot for Coney Hill’s very first game in their long and proud history.

That game took place soon after the end of World War Two and it is a game Philip can remember like it was yesterday.

“It was the club’s very first game back in 1947, it was played at Stinger Long’s Farm, it was a real roly-poly pitch,” recalled Philip.

“I took the kick-off, the ball was stuffed with newspapers as there weren’t many new balls around at the time!

“My dad was one of the people involved in setting up the club.”

His dad was Percy Langley, a butcher in Eastgate market in Gloucester, and at the time the family lived in Richmond Avenue in the heart of Coney Hill.

His grandmother Essa Langley – “Everybody knew her as Mrs Langley,” Philip said – also ran a butcher’s in Newton Avenue, which was opposite Coney Hill Rugby Club’s original headquarters.

Philip’s dad was president of Coney Hill in those early days and his son, a one-time pupil at Sir Thomas Rich’s, has always had a close affinity with the club even though he has never played for them.

Philip, a father-of-two, spent much of his life in Gloucester, taking on his dad’s butcher’s before moving away from the

Philip Langley, front, centre, was Coney Hill’s mascot at the grand age of 80 earlier this season. Picture: Shaun Lafferty city in 1997. These days he lives in Andover in Hampshire but he still comes back to Gloucester when he can and that’s how he rekindled his love for the club.

“I just decided to call in,” he said. “The bloke on the door said, ‘Have you come to play skittles?’

“I said, ‘See that team picture on your wall from the club’s first ever game, the mascot is me’.

“He was just overwhelmed!”

And so was everyone else at the club who have since rolled out the red carpet – or should that be the black and amber carpet! – for Philip.

“They’ve treated me like a lord, it’s been wonderful,” he said.

“I’ve always been a supporter, I’ve got so many memories. I recognise some of the players on the photo from that first game against Drybrook.

“Johnny Lowe was captain, Charlie Maisey and Charlie Dunn also played, they were all good Coney Hill lads.

“They played in the club’s original strip – yellow shirt, white shorts, white collars and cuffs, and long sleeves.” As well as being a mascot at Metz Way back in September –a game Coney Hill won 38-19 –Philip also went to the club’s 75th anniversary dinner and he plans to come back for their Christmas party on Saturday 10th December. By then the club’s flagship team will be about halfway through their league campaign. They’ve made a good start to the season and Philip said: “It seems like they’ve got a very good side.” And while the players are making an impression on the pitch, it’s fair to say that Philip has certainly made an impression off it. “He’s lovely, very funny,” said club secretary Amy Dunn. “When he came to our 75th anniversary dinner, he was happy to speak to everyone. We thought he might be a bit quiet but he loved it, he was joining in and dancing on the dance floor. “He really got involved, he says he enjoys being at the club, he says everybody has been so nice to him.”