I suspect many of the members here would be unaware of the strong links the 2 Para Reunion club has with the Regt rugby league team. During my time in the Btn (60's/70's) a few of us set up a rugby league team with the help of an old mate, Cpl Norman Moore, a born and bred Wigan man.

2 Para, we believe was the first army side to produce a league team. It was of course an amateur side and we played in the greater London area on Sundays. The Btn provided us with the kit but we had to use our own transport, no mean feat in those days when vehicles were few and far between.

That team was very successful and many of the players from that side now attend our reunions. The team has now evolved from a Btn into a Regt side and until last year played the Marines in an annual event for the Trafalgar Cup. We were not too successful as it was very difficult to get players released from their duties to train let alone play!! Unlike the Marines who were able to fly players in from practically anywhere in the world.

When in 2003 we were approached at our reunion by the team coach for any help we could give the side (financially) we put it to the members. A sum over £500 was collected to provide a new strip for the team. We then continued in the following years to provide that team with dress shirts, T shirts, and other bits of kit along with man of the match awards.

After only one victory in the Trafalgar Cup Dave Singletary (an adopted Wigan man) made a huge effort and after liaising between Wigan RLC and Para Regt arranged for a number of the Wigan coaches to travel to Colchester over a period of weekends (no charge) to help coach the side. This had a huge affect on the team, however once again just before the game was due to take place a number of key players were deployed.

This left the coaches in disbelief, Dave then came up with an idea of strengthening the side. This could be done by recruiting professional rugby league players who could be made eligible to play for the team without becoming full time soldiers. They were asked if they would consider doing a para course and, if successful joining 4 Para.

You are probably wondering where this is going!!

Below is the link to Sky TV showing these lads starting out on their journey to become Airborne soldiers, and the accolades thrown upon this idea by some of todays rugby league superstars. However as expected certain members of the Regt appear to bask in the glory of someone else's idea!!

(There are 3 clips in all)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lql4tBClHOE


Wigan youth development manager and coach Brian Foley with DS presenting man of the match award after the game in 2006 (Note the 2 Para Reunion Club shirts)

Well Done Dave and Al,
Credit on you and the club,
Gil

Well done gent's
Dave,where's your effin 2 Para shirt then????

Why do people do that to Dave, and stand on boxes when they are standing with him??

They're not.....................it's dave..........he;'s stood in a hole!

GOOD ONE.

A Tabb of 50 miles starts with a single step

Good one.

What is this game "Rugby League"

It's the game WITHOUT rucks,mauls,lineout's and PANSY'S

Well it seems all this training is really good stuff,now if it was put into practice for a REAL game ICE HOCKEY it would be great,looking at all that physical stuff, had to lie down, seems all those yrs ago ,P COY, ABUSE, of all kinds, guess its not the same now, hey guys remember all that shouting and screaming, in the depot, oh happy daays.

pansies? PANSIES? Did somebody mention 4 Pln?

Seems like they did

Absolutely brilliant example of what is meant by ABI....well done Dave.

Shit shovellers 5 and 6 Plt's on the upper two floors, "pass it down we'll clean it up for you"

That was your sole Coy purpose in the Battalion

As was Five platoons !!!!

Bitches!!!

LOOKS LIKE YOU CALLED THE RIGHT NAMES GIL, NOT A SOUL,PUT IN ANY POST, I AM SITTING
HERE AT 4AM ON TUESDAY MORNING, PASSING THE WEE HOURS THINKING
I WILL READ SOME CHATER FROM THE BOYS BACK HOME AND NOT A
BUGGER ON LINE OR HAS BEEN SINCE SATURDAY THE 26, WHERE ARE YOU
SHAKE IT UP, PUT THE FINGER TO THE BOARD, LETS HAVE SOME LAUGHS
A JOKE A FUNNY STORY ANY OLD CRAP WILL DO YOUR ALL A.W.O.L
JANKERS FOR THE LOT OF YOU,BUT I STILL LUV YOU ALL.

LOOKS LIKE YOU CALLED THE RIGHT NAMES GIL, NOT A SOUL,PUT IN ANY POST, I AM SITTING
HERE AT 4AM ON TUESDAY MORNING, PASSING THE WEE HOURS THINKING
I WILL READ SOME CHATER FROM THE BOYS BACK HOME AND NOT A
BUGGER ON LINE OR HAS BEEN SINCE SATURDAY THE 26, WHERE ARE YOU
SHAKE IT UP, PUT THE FINGER TO THE BOARD, LETS HAVE SOME LAUGHS
A JOKE A FUNNY STORY ANY OLD CRAP WILL DO YOUR ALL A.W.O.L
JANKERS FOR THE LOT OF YOU,BUT I STILL LUV YOU ALL.

How you doing Dave?
Just wondering if you got any old photo's of the old days when you was in Germany?
Would be interesting.
Or what about Auss.
What's old Sydney / Bondi like nowdays?

Hi Happy Jack,Well
thing are great at present sydney is in full summer time,preety hot at times, the beaches are full of surfersand tourists,I was in Berlin in 48 the
branderburg gate was occupied by Ruskies and we were on guard duty
most of the time,keeping an eye each other our regt was billeted at spanduo barracks and the prison most of the ex nazi generals were interned there including Hess, they told us we were there to stop any rescue attempt to free them.spent some time on the wall armed to the teeth, but nought happened.Most of my snaps got lost over time, knew
a few babes, had agreat flat in the yankee zone shared with some american provost police, got to ride around on 42 model harly davy good
times young and sweet, oh to be young again.

Bloody hell......it's like the past catching up with me. I was in C Coy Dave as was yourself and finished my time when I was in Spandau barracks. Although some people thought that I should have been in Spandau prison! Was it on this site that some people posted some photos of Spandau bks? I still remember climbing over the wall back into camp from the married pads area as I couldn't really sign back in at the gate as I hadn't booked out in the first place!!

Cor blimey you must be one of myleftovers, Love is in air and on the grass under the brandy bridge, WOW now my past is catching up with me,dont give me your burf date or I might throw a heart ack ack. thanks danny red, happy times are here again. Luv it
yes I saw those photos of the prison,dont recall who posted them but he will bet your bottom dollar

HI HAPPY JACK, TO SEE PICS OF BERLIN GO TO : PHOTOS
NUMBER 2. POSTED BY HOGY .

THE DATE
DECEMBER 20 2007. A OK,...

Rare as Rocking Horse Shit them pics
Sign in and sign out not a Fl..in chance.
Do you remember the money on the camp. Baffs no good for nothing
but the NAFFI.

A Tabb of 50 miles starts with a single step.