Tony's Funeral will take place at 12:00 on October 5th at St Mary’s Church, St Mary’s Lane, Hertingfordbury. SG14 2LD and the wake at 13:00 at HRFC, Hoe lane

We are greatly saddened to inform our club members and friends that Tony has died.

For many years he has had a form of Leukaemia and has finally succumbed at the age of 71.
A product of Baas Hill School which later became Broxbourne School Tony spent his life in the construction industry.

He was a very good ABA boxer as a youth, which taught the discipline that also relates to rugby. His talent and reputation was such that there were opponents who simply would not get in the ring with him, which earnt him the Monika ‘Tiger’.

Prior to rugby TP played football and was a lifelong avid Spurs supporter. I don’t know what drew him to the egg-shaped ball game but it’s safe to say that he found his sporting vocation at Hoe Lane.

Tony played tighthead prop during the 70’s and 80’s and was literally and metaphorically, the cornerstone of the pack.

In those days, every team needed an ‘enforcer’ and ‘TP’ was ours. Well versed in all the dark arts of the front row, he went about his business with a quiet efficiency and was very rarely troubled by his opposite number.

Despite having a face that some may say “only a mother could love” he had a soul,
personality and presence that meant he was loved by all at HRFC, unless of course you were in an opposition No.1 shirt.

Between 1980 and 86 Hertford reached 4 Hertfordshire cup finals and Tony was one of the very few players who played in all of them. He was an integral part of the club’s success throughout those years.

In recent years he could be seen a few times a season watching games with his grandson and I’m sure many will miss that big smiley greeting of “Allo son” or Allo mate”.

Thinking of what to say about Tony’s days at Hoe Lane, I realised that many stories cannot be repeated any more as the game has changed, sometimes for the better and sometimes maybe not so but what I can say is that as a youngster you always felt safe when TP was on the team sheet. If you played with him, you know!

Our condolences go to his wife Jan and the rest of this family.

Rest well old friend and have a pint with your hero Greavsie.