In May 1996 the Club decided to make the post of Chief Executive redundant and therefore Mike Coley moved on. There was no doubt that the Club had been left behind in the stakes to adapt to the advent of professionalism and lost out to more forward thinking clubs in terms of recruitment and particularly with financial aid. The lack of a major investor was becoming an issue with all concerned within the club, officials, players and supporters.
All those who could see that without a professional investor the outlook was bleak, welcomed the introduction of Tom Walkinshaw as the new club owner with the majority shareholding on 29th April 1997.
David Sims had become the Club’s first full time professional in the May of 1996 and a few months later they became the first English club to pay a transfer fee to another club. The signing of Craig Emerson from Morley made not only a note in club history but also in the wider sphere.
To conclude off the field aspects Tom Walkinshaw purchased the final 25 per cent of the Club’s shares and appointed Ken Nottage who had previously been with Newcastle Falcons as managing director.
While events surrounding the sport had somewhat overtaken the game itself there were tumultuous times for the hardcore Gloucester Rugby Club supporters.
They encountered the highs and lows. Exaltation in 1978 when Leicester were defeated 6 points to three at Twickenham in the first ever John Player Cup Final. The path to the Final came with victories versus Lydney (home) 38 points to 6, Gosforth (home) 19 points to 10, Wasps (away) 13 points to 3, Harlequins (away) 12 points to 6. The Gloucester captain that season was England back row forward John Watkins.
The selection of Gloucester prop Philip Blakeway was a highlight of the 1980-81 season when he was invited to tour with the British Lions in South Africa. Eight years later Mike Teague went one better when he appeared for the British Lions in their second and third Tests of their 1989 tour of Australia.
However, the following season of 1981-82 witnessed the Club reaching the final of the John Player Cup where they were joint winners after drawing 12 points all with Moseley.
Their path to the final came via the following encounters. High Wycombe (home) 40 points to 6, Exeter (home) 34 points to 3, Sale (home) 13 points 6, Coventry (away) 18 points to 9. The Club was also the leading club that season in the ‘Merit Table’ which was compiled by two of the country’s national newspapers.
After the innovation of leagues being introduced in the 1987-1988 season, the 1988-1989 season saw the Club just fall short of double success when they finished second in the Courage League and were also Pilkington Cup Semi-Finalists.
There was further frustration one year later with another second placed position in Courage League One and a heavy defeat by 48 points to 6 in the Pilkington Cup Final at Twickenham to West Country rivals Bath.
Kingsholm hosted the New Zealand versus USA World Cup match in 1991. The Club once again reached the Pilkington Cup semi-final in 1992.
The following season of 1992-1993 was somewhat disruptive with players concerned with regard to lack of rewards and considered their incentives were not comparable to other clubs.
Two years previous the Club had lost 15 players lured to other clubs including Gloucester fans favourite and England and British Lions star Mike Teague to Moseley. Once again Gloucester Rugby Club was defeated Pilkington Cup semi-finalists in 1996. The Club celebrated its 125th Anniversary season in 1998-1999.
Peter Butler, the former full back ended his playing time in this era with 2,961 points scored in his one club career, a record that may stand for all time with the gradual reduction in fixtures.
Richard Hill was relieved of his coaching duties midway through the 1998-1999 season and replaced by Philippe Saint Andre.
The 25-year period had seen several players honoured by their country, namely – Scott Benton, Phil Blakeway, Stephen Boyle, Peter Butler, John and Robert Fidler, Phil Greening, Peter Kingston, Neil McCarthy, Mark Mapletoft, Stephen Mills, Steve Ojomoh, John Orwin, Malcolm Preedy, Gordon Sargent, David Sims, Michael Teague, Phil Vickery, Richard West, Christopher Williams and Trevor Woodman by England. While Ian Smith and Peter Jones were honoured by Scotland, Terry Fanolua by Samoa, and Michael Teague was given further recognition by playing for the British Lions as previously stated.
So a period of 25 years ended with professionalism embraced.
