Five years ago, he went to whatever lengths he could to ensure he would be able to play in the 2nd team Cup Final – now he has taken very drastic steps to make sure there is no way he will be able to take to the field on Sunday 3rd March when Atherstone take on Bedworth in the Warwickshire 2nds Vase Final.

Bartlam has been part of the club from his early teens initially as a player and latterly as an active member of the committee. There are not many roles Bartlam has not carried out during his time with the club…he is part of the furniture! No-one could doubt his commitment to the club – they could doubt many other things like his proclamation that he is the best scrum half the club has ever had (in fact there are countless scrum-halves lining up to dispute that one), that he doesn’t have an 8pm curfew on match days, that he can pass off both hands – the list goes on! However, Bartlam’s recent drastic action to ensure he is unavailable for the Cup Final squad has raised a few eyebrows!

On 9th February 2014, Atherstone 2nds were due to play in the Warwickshire Shield Final against Alcester at Old Leamingtonians. At the time George Bartlam was club chair and he was gutted that he would not be able to play in the final due to family commitments. As it happened the game was postponed to 9th March due to a waterlogged pitch. At the time suspicions were raised that Bartlam might have had something to do with the excessive water on the pitch in order to ensure he would be available to play. Despite intense speculation there was no real evidence to prove his involvement in the postponement, so he was given the benefit of the doubt and duly took to the field for the final.

Fast forward 5 years, Atherstone 2nds are once again competing in a cup final on Sunday 3rd March against Bedworth at Barker Butts. Bartlam was part of the squad for the semi-final against Keresley, a game which he described as being his last for the club, he was finally hanging up his boots. He was approached to see if he was available for the final and his response was:

“I would rather have a cocktail stick pushed into my eye!!! I was on tablets for 4 days after the last game. Great way to finish – thanks but no thanks”

Now that was a fairly clear message that Bartlam felt he did not have another game in him, however in the back of his mind he knew that he could have been persuaded so he decided he needed to make sure there was no possibility of him playing.

For years Bartlam had been talking about his hip and how bad it was, it is now apparent that he was simply sowing a seed that he would be able to use in the future when it suited him. Always one for the long game, Bartlam knew there would come a time when he needed a trump card in his back pocket which he could use to his advantage. Who would have thought that trump card would involve a top-notch orthopedic surgeon, a high class hospital facility, invasive surgery and a shiny new hip?

As news came through of Atherstone’s progression to the Final, Bartlam swiftly put his plan into action. His acting skills were tested to the limit but the performance deserved an Oscar as he convinced first his GP then the surgeon that he had to have a new hip by the end of February. The date was set – and on 25th February Bartlam underwent a lengthy operation to replace his hip. Now, those less cynical may think that this had nothing to do with his reluctance to play in the final, others however have already put two and two together and concluded that Bartlam knew he had to do something drastic otherwise he would have succumbed to the call for his services such is his commitment to the club!

Speaking to him after the operation, it was clear there was a level of regret in his decision. When asked how the operation had gone and how his recovery was progressing. he said:

“All going well, waiting for x-ray then starting physio – should be okay for the last 20 in the final”

In all seriousness, we all wish George ‘Yoda’ Bartlam a speedy recovery.