I have just had a web site developed with a blog so have a look at www.fred-climbs-kilimanjaro.co.uk for some upto date information about what I am doing. I also hope to carry the blog on whilst I am on the mountain.

 

My name is Iain Taylor and I have played rugby union since I was 6 years old when I was a member of Macclesfield RUFC mini and Junior section, one of the first in England. Since then I have played for Macclesfield, Orrell Winnington Park and New Brighton. I  am the highest capped player for the Cheshire RFU and have in recent years also played the Wooden Spoon/ AA Rugby Team. I am now 43 years old and although I still play for Macclesfield 2^nd team I am now spending more time coaching than playing the game.

 

I have decided the walk up Kilimanjaro on a sponsored walk for the Wooden Spoon Charity.

 

I have been lucky enough to have played rugby for many years if fact since I  was 6 years old starting at Macclesfield Rugby club mini section and rising all the  way to the top echelons of the countries club systems with Orrell in Wigan.

 

I have always felt that as I have been fortunate enough to have made so many fantastic experiences throughout my rugby career it was always my wish to put something back into the sport that has treated me so well over the last 30 odd years.

 

When my son was 6 years old I started to coach him again at Macclesfield Rugby Club and I have now continued this for 7 years, along the way I have started to occasionally coach some of the other Macclesfield sides as well as a number of the Cheshire junior teams. I am also the second team coach at Macclesfield.

 

Along the way I have made numerous friends that I have either played with or against. To this day I can walk into many local and national rugby clubs and find somebody that I have either played with or against. I even find that my son now plays against the sons of these rugby colleagues, which is quite a bizarre feeling.

 

In recent years I have played a number of times for the Wooden Spoon /Anti Assassins and found that the style of rugby and friendship is a throw back to pre-professional days with the style of play being more important than the result, although as with all sports men the result is still important.

 

I was really impressed with the dedication of the wooden spoon and that is why when I decided to undertake a sponsored trek up Kilimanjaro The Wooden Spoon Charity was the first charity that I thought about. This again also allows me to ‘give something back’ to a sport that still excites me even after all of the years that I have played and now coached.