Deacon, Andy

Andy Deacon

Andy Deacon had a career which was, by modern standards, one of remarkable longevity.  He appeared in 17 successive seasons for the Cherry and Whites              and played through the difficult transition from amateur to professional rugby.  In the amateur days Andy earned his living as a Drayman for Whitbread Breweries.  He would work from 5am to 1pm, and then go training. He was very popular with both the Kingsholm supporters as well as his club colleagues.  This was exemplified when, towards the end of his career in April 2003, he was sent up first to collect the Powergen Cup following the exciting win over Northampton at Twickenham.

In 2001, he was awarded a testimonial year, the first Gloucester player to be so honoured.

Andrew Deacon was born in Tuffley, Gloucester, on 31 July 1965.  He attended Beaufort Comprehensive School, Quedgeley.  At school he was sport mad and involved in a whole range of activities, before concentrating on rugby which, at Beaufort School, was taught by John Simonett, John himself played 98 times for Gloucester, and his profile appears elsewhere in this book.

Andy played local rugby for Longlevens, where he broke into the first XV at the age of 17, and would later captain the club. At this stage he was playing in the second row and was in his twenties before he moved up to play as a tight-head prop.

Andy decided to try his luck at Kingsholm, but found just getting a game very tough.  His first appearance was on 11 November 1987 against Cheltenham.  He would not make another first XV appearance until January 1989.  In fact, in his first four seasons he only made 13 starts.  Richard Pascall and Bob Phillips were the regular tight-heads, and were not going to be shifted.  Andy scored his first try, after coming on as a replacement on Easter Monday 1990, in a 16 try romp over Birkenhead Park.

By 1991 Richard Pascall had retired.  As a result, over the next few seasons Andy started to get more opportunities, but it was not until February 1992 that he made his first league appearance, and that was against old rivals Bath.

Deacon was made club captain for the 1994-95 season.  That season was a difficult one.  In the summer of 1994 Andy had been selected for the England Emerging Players team, playing as a replacement against Spain, and then starting against Canada.  Unfortunately, in the latter contest he broke his collarbone.  Perhaps, because he was the new captain, he returned from the injury too soon, was not fully fit and his form suffered.  Gloucester had only moderate success, finishing seventh out of ten, in what was then called Division 1.  There were good wins against Leicester, and away to Harlequins, but an early Pilkington Cup exit to Wakefield.

The following season found Gloucester deep in relegation trouble until the last game of the season.  It was a straight relegation shoot-out between the Cherry and Whites and Saracens at Kingsholm.  Andy was in the team which eventually won 17-10, and secured safety.   In the end, Saracens were reprieved due to an extension to the league, which meant there was no relegation

In 1996 rugby union went professional.  Whitbread gave Andy a two-year break so that he could endeavour to make it as a full-time professional.  At the dawn of professionalism, Gloucester had a powerful front row in the shape of Deacon, Phil Greening and Tony Windo.  In the 1996-97 season, Andy scored tries against Bath home and away, although the games were lost 29-45 and 21-71!  Gloucester made it to the semi-final of the Powergen Cup, and Andy was in the team that lost at home to Leicester.

The following season Andy lost his place to the newly arrived Phil Vickery.  However, he did appear in the Cheltenham & Gloucester Cup Final, Gloucester beating Bedford 32-25.  After the season had finished, in the summer of 1998, Andy toured South America with the Barbarians.

Due to a long-term injury to Vickery, Andy regained his starting spot in the 1998-99 season, and was a replacement when Gloucester again won the C&G Cup, against the same opponents.  In March 1999 Andy won his sole England ‘A’ cap, appearing against Ireland ‘A’ at Donnybrook.  He started the game, was not replaced, and was on the field for a full 90 minutes!  Mark Mapletoft appeared in the same game, scored two tries, and made four conversions.

In 2001, the club awarded “Deacs” a testimonial, which was roundly supported by the Gloucester public and rugby community from all round the country.

Gloucester qualified for the Heineken Cup for the first time in 2000, and did so well that they reached the semi-final against Leicester, played at Vicarage Road, Watford.  Andy was in the team that lost a close contest 19-15.

In 2001-02 Andy was mostly used as a replacement but his final two seasons were a kind of “Indian Summer” to his career.  In 2002-03 Phil Vickery was again absent for long periods with injury, and Andy was busily employed at the rock face.  He appeared in the Powergen Cup Final against Northampton, which Gloucester won 40-22 – a thrilling game that nobody who witnessed it will ever forget.  It was fitting that captain Jake Boer sent veteran Andy up to receive the trophy.

During the 2003-04 season “Deacs” was again in demand and made 21 starts at tight-head.  But, at the age of 38, he announced that his retirement from top-class rugby would take place at the end of the season.  His final game was the last of the season against Sale on 15 May 2004.

Andy then moved to the Forest, where Pete Glanville was Head Coach of Cinderford.  Andy continued to play as player/coach.  Incredibly he was still playing at the end of the 2010 season at the ripe old age of 44!  At this point Pete Glanville stood down and Andy took over as Director of Rugby.  He would continue in that role until 2014.  In 2015 Andy took on the position of Director of Rugby at Cirencester.  In 2020 he moved on to Longlevens to take up the equivalent post there.

Andy Deacon is a Gloucester legend.  He played through the transition to professional rugby, which meant a change of attitude from one of playing the sport for pure pleasure, to that of a more singular minded, demanding, full time job.  Many players could not make that transition.  Andy certainly did.  A booklet was produced to promote his testimonial year, and interviewed in it, he said, “I didn’t think I would last this long, but I like training and I look after myself and that is why I kept going.  You have to work hard.  You have to be honest with yourself about whether you are putting it in and hitting people as hard as you can.  Only you know if you are doing that, and if you are not truthful with yourself you will never get on.”

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