Blades Joins For Pre Season

By Ridley Hall
May 30 2002

Falcons have confirmed that Andrew Blades will be sorting the forwards out next season. The Aussie is currently with his national Under 21's and will arrive on Tyneside for pre-season. He will be working with Steve Brotherstone, among others, who has completed his signing from Saints.

There's no news from KP on what is happening to Peter Walton the assistant coach who had responsibilty for the forwards.

But there's no doubt that Blades will in charge of the pack. He's been capped 32 times and has signed a three-year contract with the Falcons.

One of his first jobs will be to help strengthen the pack. We're short of an experienced prop [or two] and need more second row cover with back only Grimes, Vyvyan and Hamilton in there at the moment following the departure of Doddie to MacFalcons.

Rob says: After three months of negotiations Andrew Blades has signed a three-year contract as our new Forwards Coach.

“This is the sort of appointment I have been looking to make for the last three years but the right person was never available until I heard on the grapevine a few months ago that Andrew was interested in coming to Europe.

“Not surprisingly there was a bit of competition for his services and I’m absolutely thrilled and delighted we’ve got him; he’s just what we need to make the next step in our development give the group of talented but young forwards we’ve got.

“There are not many guys around with Andrew’s coaching qualities that also fit perfectly with our style and in addition, he has a huge knowledge of the front row.”