Mike Williams, Former Blackheath FC Rugby Payer and 1st XV Vice-Captain Has Died
Blackheath FC has taken to social media to mourn the death of former player and 1st XV Vice-Captain, who passed away last month. Mike, who had previously played for Rosslyn Park and Oxford Greyhounds, became a member of the Club during the 1967–1968 season. He received his education at Oundle School and then went on to Bristol University, where he was the leader of the team that won the United Arab Emirates championship in 1962. In the latter part of that year, he was a member of the Middlesex 7s team that was successful.
Mike Williams Career
During the 1967–1968 season, Mike was the captain of the Club 7s team, which went on to win a number of tournaments, including the Surrey Sevens. Mike, who had a strong interest in the 7-a-side game, was the one who put together the very first Coaching Manual for 7s.
His influence was evident in this regard when Blackheath won a number of sevens competitions and advanced to the Hawick sevens final in 1969, where London Welsh defeated them 17-3. Blaydon is Mike’s hometown, and in April of 1972, he was a member of the Club tour that went to both that town and Hartlepool.
Due to the fact that Mike’s father was the President of Blaydon RFC at the time, we believe that Mike was involved in this. By the way, Mickey Skinner, who is also from Blaydon, was always eager to share with us the fact that he was nine years old when he witnessed Mike compete in that championship match. From the 1967–1968 season all the way through the 1971–1972 season, with the exception of the 1969–1970 season, he is on the team pictures for Club 1st XV
