Fylde coach pays tribute to retired Beaumont

Fylde RFC player-coach Paul Arnold paid a glowing tribute to team-mate Sam Beaumont, who has decided to retire because of a shoulder injury.
Paul Arnold watches Sam Simpson take Fylde forwardPaul Arnold watches Sam Simpson take Fylde forward
Paul Arnold watches Sam Simpson take Fylde forward

Arnold, a veteran of 400 games, said he considered Beaumont one of the best he had played alongside.

Arnold said of the former Fylde skipper’s retirement: “It is.a bitter blow. Sam is never going to get plaudits or headlines, but to his team-mates and to me he would be the first name on the teamsheet.

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“He did the work no-one else wanted to do. He let people like myself play a bit more rugby. Sam always led from the front and was a great captain when I first joined.

“He was never one for inspirational speeches. Players just followed him on the pitch. He was that sort of leader and will be sadly missed. He was one of the best I played with.

“But Sam is going to be around watching games. He said he needed another shoulder operation, which would be three in three years, so it is time for him to settle down with his family and enjoy his weekend shopping!”

Greg Smith’s match-winning try against Plymouth six minutes into stoppage time will have delighted Beaumont.

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Arnold said: “If we had lost I would have been gutted. We had some good old heads out there and that is what we have lacked in a few games.

There is no panic , bickering or shouting at the referee.

“We grafted really hard and Greg didn’t have a bad game, did he?”

Back row forward Mark Goodman has left Fylde and joined Sedgley Tigers.

Jack Harrison and Matt Garrod have joined Preston Grasshoppers on loan.