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A Collection of memories: the Twickenham experience

My local club is Jarrovians Rugby Club it’s a social club. Although they’re not very good, sadly, everyone really enjoys the matches. My first visit to Twickenham was to see Newcastle Falcons when they played Sale Sharks. We won the game; it was an amazing atmosphere, as it always is in the stadium. We left Newcastle at 6 o’clock in the morning, watched the match and were home by 2 o’clock the following morning! Karen Keegan

My first trip to Twickenham was as a young sprog, my Dad brought me down here as he was a big rugby man too. It would be tough to pick out an all time favourite match but we did come down here three years ago for the London 7's for my stag do. I was in a 1970's dress, which caught the attention of the cameras & ended up enjoying lots of hospitality. Free beer & pies in the sunshine at Twickenham, does it get any better? Michael Rowland & Paul Rodgers

My first time to Twickenham was in 1983 when I came with school to watch England play France and Wade Dooley was playing for England at the time. He was a policeman it was semi-professional so they all had other jobs. He was 6 foot 7, a massive guy. There was a guy playing for France called Condom which got a lot of attention. At half-time someone blew up a condom and wrote on the side ‘play safe’ and it floated down the middle of the ground in the breeze and the cameras picked it up so you could see it on the big screen and the whole ground was in hysterics. There were no seats in the South Stand so everyone was standing and the floor was extremely wet because people decided not to go off to the restrooms at half time. There were flags flying around, it wasn’t the most pleasant experience from that point of view, but it had a really good atmosphere. At the time the North Stand was still wooden. It looks so different now. Mark Hooley

This is my third time at Twickenham; I first came to watch an Australia match, then three months ago for the All Blacks game. It is my son’s second time at Twickenham; it’s a great family day out. When we came for the All Blacks game it was my son’s first time and we met Richard Hill and Martin Corry on the train over so they were introduced to him. It was his birthday so it was such a special day. Simon Whiteley

The first time I turned up outside and saw all those people and I wanted to be part of it. It was a terrific match, the game, the atmosphere, the whole thing was just magical and overall it equates for an amazing day out, and it remains with you for weeks, months, years to come until the next one comes along. Every time you know there’s an England game on all you want to do is turn up and watch them play. I enjoy all the teams playing together in the Six Nations; it is just marvellous to see all the teams come together. John Loader

My favourite memory of Twickenham was about three years ago, we came here and we were playing New Zealand and when they started the Hakka, the crowd started singing Swing Low and drowned it out. Then we won and it was brilliant. The best day! Brian Rix

This is my first ever match at Twickenham, I've previously been on the stadium tour but never seen a live game here, so it is a big day and hopefully England will smash Italy! Fabian McLaughlin, Old Reigatians RUFC

My first trip to Twickenham was in 2014 for the Army v Navy match, really enjoyed it, the stadium was very busy. Gareth Evans

These memories were recorded by members of the RFU Youth Council at Twickenham during the Six Nations Championship as part of the England Rugby Sporting Memories project.


Memory added on March 10, 2015

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Simon Whiteley and Mark HooleySimon Whiteley and Mark Hooley