I would like to thank (President) Garry Smith & (Vice President) Jordan Kay for this appointment and opportunity. I am looking forward to the challenges ahead and cannot wait to get started.

A little about me – I was a player for many years in the colours of Dalkeith and the British Army and it was here that I got my first taste for coaching. I completed my RFU coaching qualifications and had some success at the tail end of my Army career. Having played No 9 over the years, it was inevitable, after too many injuries that I would foray into something different. I turned my hand to refereeing – yes, a 9 that refs I hear ye say! In 2013, I was asked to coach at Dalkeith which, after a lot of soul searching I accepted. That season, I won the East 2 title pipping Berwick to promotion, the following season it was roles reversed and Berwick took the spoils and East 1 title with Dalkeith runners up. After going back to refereeing, I was promoted to the SRU panel and remained there for two years. In season 2018/19, I again took over at Dalkeith narrowly missing promotion. The following season, we won East League 3 and the Edinburgh Bowl (also, National semi-final but for the coronavirus this game was postponed)

Now a new and exciting chapter in coaching begins for me at Forrester.

My coaching philosophy is simple;

Communication – vital in modern rugby
Contest, compete & win possession – win the collisions/breakdown
Create space and go forward – play smart, develop our own style of attacking rugby
Support the player at all times – whether in attack or defence, believe in ourselves
Put pressure on the opposition
Have a robust defensive system

When we put all that together, we should have the winning mentality to take the club forward and build on the foundations that both Paddy & Sean have left behind (and no your days are not over as I will be bending both your ears for advice).

As a coach, my views of the game revolve around the essentials of Teamwork, Strengths, Ambition and above all Discipline.

Without all of the above, our strategy and game plans will not be successful. Our growth will be down to our determination and consistency to perform week in week out and mount a challenge for the division title. It is my role to enhance the players focus on how we want to play and build a long-term legacy here at Forrester. That is my goal.

It is important to me that we build a strong group of players that will be able to compete at the highest level, but our success on the pitch will be down to developing, improving and nurturing one group of players rather than having a 1st and a 2nd xv.

My ethos is to train hard and play harder than what is in front of you. Everyone will have the same opportunity to play for the 1st team and I want all the players to challenge me so I can become a better coach in the process.

What am I looking for as the Head Coach? Firstly, I want to get to know you all as individuals and as a team, this way I will be able to gauge how we go forward in the season ahead (this will allow me to program a new training regime based on individual(s) skill(s) of the player(s) within the squad. Secondly, like every coach, I want success, silverware and everyone to believe that the club can fulfil its true potential – This is my challenge to you all.
Both the facilities and the environment at the club will make Forrester RFC a place all players want to be but to do all that and more, we need to be a collective fighting unit – pardon the pun!

Working hard in training will create the desired culture that will have a positive effect on all, by doing this we will only get better and stronger as the competition for places in the 1st xv begins.

Nearly done, at present, the coronavirus is stopping pre-season getting underway but I am sure all of you will be keeping fit during these times. Well done to everybody who participated in the 3200km walk to Vienna, great effort.

To finish off, each player will be challenged both physically and mentally over the coming season both at training and on match days, if you are up for the challenge, I hope to see you all soon at the Fortress. Stay safe.

Best wishes,

Mike G
Head Coach
Forrester RFC