Newcastle Falcons VS Northampton - Programme

FROM THE PRESS BOX
By Mark Smith
Newcastle Falcons media manager
Scott MacLeod (left) and Mark Wilson
“There is nothing permanent except change.”
I don’t normally turn to Greek philosophers for my quotes – more of a Brent or
Partridge man as a rule – but Heraclitus might have been on to something here.
It certainly feels that way at Newcastle Falcons, where the wind of change is blowing
at the end of a season which has had a bit of everything.
We’ve seen coaches coming and going, club legends retiring, a new head coach
announced, thumped the champions, won games with 14 men, had players at the
top of the try-scoring chart, an RFU inquiry, top players committing to new deals,
other clubs going under, multiple try of the month awards and even BT Sport finding
Kingston Park in their sat nav!
There’s certainly never a dull moment here, but the last home game of the season is
always a time to take stock.
In Alex Codling we have a new head coach to look forward to, whose record in France
points towards positive things to come. That work has already begun behind the
scenes, and we must acknowledge the foundations laid by those who are moving on.
In Dave Walder we had a head coach who threw himself wholeheartedly into the
challenge, and from the media perspective I owe him a personal debt of thanks for
the enthusiasm and openness with which we helped get our message out.
That theme has continued under Mark Laycock’s interim charge, and as much as we
are all looking forward to the club’s evolution the coaching office will be a quieter
place without unique and contrasting characters like Scott MacLeod and Mark
Wilson.
The final list of players leaving the club is not yet entirely confirmed but we know of
some big ones, with Alex Tait and Will Welch both taking a well-deserved breather. If
you could bottle those two you’d be on to something, but with new deals for the likes
of Callum Chick, Ben Stevenson, Adam Radwan and Jamie Blamire the homegrown
core will remain.
Away from the playing side, the press box will certainly be a very different place
without BBC Newcastle’s Ian Smith, who is hanging up his microphone after our final
game at Sale Sharks in two weeks.
Family links ensure I haven’t gotten rid of the old man completely, but we’re talking
about a bloke who has been involved with Newcastle Falcons’ radio commentaries
for more than 600 games spanning more than two decades, not to mention settin up
the original Falcons academy during the mad dash into professionalism.
Exactly what BBC Newcastle will do with their rugby coverage (if anything), I don’t
know, but the club owes Smithy Senior an enormous debt of thanks for going the
extra mile (literally, in the case of his travel to away games), to spread the good
word.
But there is plenty to look forward to. Things moving on doesn’t mean the end.
As a wise man once said, there is nothing permanent except change.
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