Remembering Keith Rudd – one of a sporting kind in West Norfolk

The former Lynn News sports editor Chris Hornby worked closely with Keith Rudd during his playing and managerial spells for the Linnets.He writes: There was no doubting Keith’s qualities as a player, a coach and a manager, and as with any manager, he hated losing – and I would have to choose my moment for an interview in those circumstances.Remember, he was in charge in those turbulent years when Lynn were switched from the Southern League to the Northern League and money was often tight.But he played a big part in keeping the club afloat, developing many local young players into his way of playing.Keith had stepped in after the brief and unsuccessful reign of Barry Bridges and he made an inauspicious start.His first match (I had to check the Lynn News files for this information) was in December 1979, at home to Milton Keynes. Lynn lost 1-0, watched by just 218 fans.Yes, just 218 paying spectators at The Walks. He then faced the challenge of preparing a side for the Northern Premier League – and one highlight often forgotten is that he was in charge when Lynn beat Burton Albion 3-2 on aggregate to lift the NPL’s President’s Cup in 1983. All this, remember, as well as being a full-time teacher in local schools and with his own growing family.There were times I would leave the Lynn News office in Rollesby Road to interview Keith during his break time atGaywood Park School, to find out the latest team news ahead of a weekend fixture. And while talking to me, he had eyes in the back of his head for any misbehaviour from the pupils.He often spoke warmly of the former Notts Forest and England player Frank Wignall, who was brought in as Lynn manager for the 1973-74 season. I’m sure it was Wignall who pointed him towards getting coaching qualifications – with Keith eventually gaining the UEFA A badge.However, it was cricket, not football, which first brought Keith to my attention, when I was reporting on his bid to break into the Nottinghamshire county side in the early 1970s. As a medium-fast bowler, he played for Norfolk in the Minor Counties Championship for about a dozen years and had a season with Notts 2nd X1.And, of course, he enjoyed many seasons with North Runcton.Sport was in his blood and after his own football playing days were over, his community work and also with youth development and coaching in the West Norfolk area was second to none.With his passing, West Norfolk has lost a genuine sporting hero. Away from the sports fields, Keith was competitive even in family board games such as Trivial Pursuit.In the 1980s, Keith and I often paired up as a team and as the drinks flowed and the midnight hour approached and went, losing was not an option for us. Happy memories.Keith Rudd Benefit match (from the Blue & Gold Supporters’ Trust website)The big match for benefit players Keith Rudd and Mick Wright in 1980 would have been made had the Linnets been able to sneak in a goal against the might of Ipswich.But even in such friendly matches, Ipswich were not giving out any free hand-outs and if Lynn were to get a goal they would have to earn it. The vastly experienced backline, which included Burley, Kevin Beattie and Alan Hunter were only caught out by occasional Lynn breaks.In the first half McManus sped down the right wing and his cross was tipped away from the head of Chapman by the alert Paul Cooper; later in the half Clive Adams tested the keeper with a dipping long shot; then a long wait until Adams in the 80th minute sent in a low cross which Cooper snatched away from the feet of Watts.Mainly it was Ipswich, showing a lot of class, pushing deep into the Lynn half … and credit must go to the Linnets for holding them to just three goals,Lynn must have been deeply apprehensive about this game after reading that Ipswich had thrashed Stowmarket 15-0 in a friendly match the previous week. Obviously, Ipswich were not going at full pace, but they played a competitive game right to the end and it was an impressive display for the big crowd.The goals came from Roger Osborne in the 15th minute, a penalty by John Wark in the 25th minute after Paul Mariner had been brought down by Adams and a simple tap-in for Eric Gates after Osborne had laid on the chance in the 50th minute.Lynn used two goalkeepers, guest player Jim Barron (ex Notts Forest and now Peterborough) for the first half and their own Phil Ringwood in the second. Both were kept fully active in making sure the score did not build up,Johnston stood out in the Lynn defence, getting good support from Wright in the first half and then Adams in the second when the line-up was switched around. Lynn referee Terry Tooth, a familiar figure on the junior soccer scene, had no doubts about the penalty he awarded and others that he did not.He said after the match: “I was close to the tackle and Mariner was taken out, it had to be a penalty.When Chico Neale tripped O’Callaghan in the second half it was clearly outside the box and when Malc Lindsay went down in the Ipswich penalty area, it was after the ball had been played back by a defender to his goalkeeper.Terry Tooth added: “Ipswich were certainly taking this game seriously. 1 got a lot of abuse from them when they did not like my decisions and they were arguing amongst themselves when things were not going right.” The big talking point at The Walks on Tuesday was over the attendance for the match.The estimated figure from Linnets’ Player-manager Keith Rudd afterwards was of 4,900.This is based on the number of programmes sold (3,000) plus the cash taken on the turnstiles on the night.It was the best crowd at The Walks since November 1962, when 4,987 saw Lynn lose 2-1 to Oxford in the FA Cup and guess who scored the goal – Mick Wright.Ipswich: Paul Cooper, George Burley, Kevin Beattie, Roger Osborne, Alan Hunter, Russell Osman, John Wark, Steve McCall, Paul Mariner, Alan Brazil, Eric Gates, subs Kevin O’Callaghan, Jimmy King.Lynn: Jim Barron, Trevor Howard, Jim Wilson, Chris Watts, Richard Johnston, Mick Wright, Peter Morris, Clive Adams, Paul Chapman, Keith Rudd, Roy McManus, subs Phil Ringwood, Will Rider, Steve Neale, Graham Scarffe, Mal Lindsay