This was a period whereby English Rugby Union was revolutionised with the amateur ethos disappearing in its entirety and the advent of professionalism was set to sweep the sport. However, before moving on to the professional game there was still a 20-year period in which the amateur player and the ethos surrounding Gloucester Rugby Club still played a big part.

The trading loss of the Club increased in 1977 to losses in excess of £6,000. Adidas were the first club sponsors providing free kit for the players and reduced prices for boots! Match sponsors and perimeter board advertising displaying around the playing pitch was accumulating £5,000 per season for the Club.

Off the field leading up to the age of professionalism, the Club appointed Mike Coley as its first paid executive.

The tragedy of the Hillsborough disaster, at the home of Sheffield Wednesday, not only had an effect on Association Football, but had its repercussions throughout various sports.

At Kingsholm more than £200,000 had to be spent on safety measures in the wake of Lord Justice Taylor's proposals.

Commercialism was now a major aspect of sport and the Club was more than relieved to welcome the brewers Bass as their sponsor for the 1989-90 season. The following season 14 new hospitality boxes and renewed concrete terracing were added to the 'Tump End' of Kingsholm.

Mike Burton (Sports Management) Ltd was brought into the Club to take charge of all commercial, sales, hospitality and sponsorship activities.

The moves toward the game moving into full professionalism were beginning to take shape. Rumours abounded for several seasons that some clubs were already in the process of rewarding players by various means. It prompted Peter Ford, the Club chairman, in the wake of players being tempted to other clubs, to re-instate the Club's belief in the amateur ethos.

"We play by the rules, whatever anyone else does and we will stick by the rules. If they state that we cannot pay players or offer them inducements, cars or flats, then we will not do it."

A few months later, the Club appointed Barrie Corless as the Club's first full time paid director of rugby, with a salary reputed by the media to be in the region of £40,000 per annum.

In August of 1994 Mike Burton's contract with the Club was terminated due to his growing business concern and the lack of time he was able to devote to affairs at Kingsholm.

Six months later Barrie Corless resigned in February 1995, following reports that his relationship with committee members had reached an acrimonious stage.

Another six months elapsed before the Club appointed Mike Coley as the Club's first chief executive. This appointment was made in the knowledge of the IRB declaring the game was to become 'open' and thus permitted the paying of players.

Their statement read, 'Rugby will become an open game and there will be no prohibition on payment or the provision of other material benefit to any person involved in the game.'

The advent of professional rugby was thrust upon Kingsholm and the appointment of Richard Hill as director of rugby in September 1995 emphasised the intention. The Rugby Football Union imposed a one-year moratorium of the payment of players.