Mark put some questions to are club presidet Mr Bill Arthur. : Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:53 pm
MS = Mark Shaw, and BA = Bill Arthur.1.MS = Full name and nickname if you have one ??
BA = Full name is Bill Arthur, nickname Billy Boy (I share my nickname with a German condom company! Enough said).
2.MS = How long have you been in Rugby League ??
BA = I've been covering rugby league with Sky Sports for about 17 years.
3.MS = Did you every play Rugby League Club ??
BA = I've never played a proper game of league, only the occasional touch game. I played union at school and college.
4.MS = Have you alway work Rugby League or did you start in other sports ??
BA = I started out as a general sports reporter covering all sorts of sports - football, cricket, athletics, motor sport, rugby union even basketball.
5.MS = What is your best moment in Rugby League ??
BA = Best rugby league moment too numerous to mention - being at the Stoop in 1997 to see the London Broncos beat Canberra Raiders was exciting, seeing Sheffield Eagles beat Wigan 17-8 in the 1998 Challenge Cup final was memorable and covering international tours in Australia and New Zealand has been great, especially the occasional England/G.B win!
6.MS = What is your funniest moment in Rugby League ??
BA = Funniest moment in rugby league - seeing Stevo being attacked by an angry ostrich while filming at Knowsley Safari Park was hilarious although Stevo wasn't amused! Watching from the touchline as the studio floor began to give way just before we went on air at Wakefield was funny for me, not so much fun for the people in the studio ( they all got down ok!), getting lost on my way to the studio in the Millenium Stadium didn't seem funny at the time, I was starting to panic as I went down deserted corridors looking for the right door. Filming with messrs McDermott and O'Connor was lively too.
7.MS = What is it like working with Mr Stevo ??
BA = Working with Stevo is very enjoyable, he's a law unto himself, very entertaining, has an amazing grasp of the language (not sure what language it is exactly) and is generous to a fault ( the fault being that he never has any money when we get to the bar).
8.MS = Do you enjoy doing the Champioships matches on Thrusday night ??
BA = I think Thursday night's are great, the Championship and Championship 1 have put on some terrific games, there's always a brilliant atmosphere and the clubs are really welcoming and helpful.
9.MS = Will Sky show more Champioships matches this season 2011 ??
BA = I think we're doing more games from the Championships this season although the schedule is still being finalised.
10.MS = What do you think of Rugby League in the south ??
BA = I'm not from rugby league-land myself (Linconshire's not big on the game, in fact it's not big on anything apart from cows sheep and beetroot) so I'm a keen supporter of rugby league in the south of England and, in fact, in all the non traditional areas. The game's development owes a lot to enthusiastic people in these places who are working hard to keep it going and to spread the word. And we're seeing the benefits of that with players like Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Tony Clubb and now Olsi Krasniqi coming through. Not forgetting Witney's very own Darrell Griffin!
11.MS = How did you become the Oxford Cavaliers Club Preident ??
BA = I was very honoured to be asked to be joint president of the Cavaliers by Mark Shaw. It was a complete suprise and probably goes back to sharing a beer on the terracing at Toulouse's ground a couple of years ago when they were playing Halifax.
12.MS = Do you think you can help raise the profile of the Oxford Cavaliers ??
BA = I'll be trying hard to raise the profile of the Cavaliers, in fact whenever Darrell Griffin gets mentioned there's usually a plug for the Cavaliers somewhere along the way. But I'll also be working on my colleagues to make them aware of the club and other club's like the Cavaliers. So keep an eye on Stevo's column in League Express!
13.MS = Can you tell us 5 thinks about the Oxford Cavaliers ??
BA = Five things I think I know about the Cavaliers - founded in 1995, play at North Hinksey, play the Town and Gown game this weekend, former player Darrell Griffin an England international, the only way is up!
14.MS = Is there anythink you would like to say to the Club, the player and are supporter ??
BA = Finally, thanks for inviting me to be co-president of the club, I'll do my best to support the Cavaliers and help the club and I wish all the coaches, players ad supporters the best of luck in the Town and Gown game and for the 2011 season.
Thank-you for your time Bill