Pt 2 He Recounts The Story Of Salford’s Rebirth
Pt 3 He Relates The History Surrounding The Willows Social Club
Pt 4 He Remembers Players From The ‘Team Of Stars‘
Part 5 His Post Rugby Life
The career of a professional rugby league player is, in itself, very short, but the tenure of any one of them, at any one club, is usually considerably shorter, so Terry’s seven seasons at The Willows was well above those of many, including his own spells at his previous clubs. That it culminated with a Challenge Cup Final, at Wembley, was absolutely wonderful, as it would for any player, but that it came so close to his departure, was indeed a considerable surprise, even to him.
“I really had not expected anything like that to happen so soon after the big day, but sometimes events take over, and I was suddenly somewhat less in favour than previously, and now playing in the ‘A’ team. I realised then that my chances of returning to the first team had become extremely slim.
“I did get the chance of going to Rochdale but decided against it; I’d had enough by this time. In particular, I was finding myself missing the significant notoriety, and even the little adulation, which playing for Salford had brought. It had gone out of my life and that made me want to try and replace it with something else.
“I did try my hand at coaching, very briefly from 1970 to 71, with Salford University team, but when that came to an end so too did my time in rugby league, and I moved my life on in a different direction.”
That turned out be with horse-riding in which he led cross-country team-chases and eventing.
“I was also getting involved in renovating properties, including what is now my own home, which we, for one spell, turned into an hotel, so it has been only in the last five years or so that I have regained an interest, once more, in the game. I recently joined the Oldham Former Players’ Association and have now got involved with them a little bit, with their monthly meetings.
“Because the Salford team of my era consisted of players from all over the country, they have all gone their separate ways and we don’t have the basis on which to form one for us.”
It is probably a little surprising that someone, who had been away from the game for as long as Terry was, has rekindled any interest in it at all, but circumstances can often conspire to bring about the most surprising of outcomes.
“My grandson became interested in the game and joined Saddleworth Rangers before later joining the police force, so obviously I went along to watch him. He now plays for the Great Britain Police side and had it not been for the pandemic scuppering the chance, he would have toured Australia back in 2020. Then recently, out of the blue, I got a phone call from Alan Grice informing me of the new Heritage system which had been recently established by Salford, and this inspired me to make a few return visits here.
“The happiest years of my life were when I was playing for Salford, which led to a very great fondness for the club. The Snape brothers, Brian and Keith, were marvellous people to be involved with. Keith was a lovely person, and Brian just had so much energy and enthusiasm for the club. It was so wonderful to have been a part of it all.”
