Rugby Correspondent Brian Dick takes a look at Moseley's lost generation...
New ground, home-grown players, thriving youth policy Moseley finally appear to have emerged from a ten-year Dark Age that threatened the very existence of the club.
Near the top of National Two and favourites for promotion, under the systematic tutelage of former player Ian Smith, the dream that they will one day retake their seat at the top table of English rugby is more likely than at any point since the early 1990s.
That they are still around to even consider such a future is down to a seemingly inexhaustible flow of young talent harvested from the West Midlands and other areas and turned into professional rugby players.
Of the 22 who were named in the match day squad in Moseley?s last outing against Rotherham at least 13 of them can be considered to have started their careers or spent their formative years with the Birmingham side.
But during the bad times there were even more who got away. I?ve put together a XV who are plying their trade in the Premiership or at a similar level or who have gone on to greater things having left The Reddings or Bournbrook.
There are a couple of ? sticking plaster? selections but offsetting that are other players who have come through the ranks and have not made it into this team. Players like Andy Hall ? not to mention the recently retired Neil Lyman ? have had to stand down, such is the strength in depth in certain positions.
Perhaps I?ve missed a few ? please let me know if I have or even if you disagree with my selections.
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The assembly of this team is not intended to embarrass of chastise anyone merely to wonder wistfully ? what if?
15 Joe Shaw (Newcastle)
The Birmingham-born fullback is in this third season with Newcastle Falcons having spent time with Sale Sharks and Northampton Saints.
He has represented England at Under-18s, -19s, -21s and 7s levels and although he missed much of last season with an injury he returned to the line-up last month and scored on his first appearance of the campaign against Saracens.
14 Nigel Simpson (Launceston)
One of the ?sticking plaster? selections mentioned above Simpson is in his first season with the Cornish All Blacks in Moseley?s National Two.
The 30-year-old played 15 games on the wing in the late 1998-99 and scored six tries before moving on to Bath and rising to England 7s level. Since then he has become something of journeyman moving to The Rec, Rotherham ? when they were first in the Premiership ? and Plymouth Albion in successive seasons.
After three years in Devon he moved further west to Launceston.
13 James Hinkins (Bedford)
Hinkins was Moseley?s top scorer in their relegation season ? 2002-03 ? and decided to remain in National One with Bedford Blues.
He was part of the Blues side that won the Powergen Shield at Twickenham last season but didn?t make it on to the pitch and has seen his role reduced at Goldington Road this season. Represented Midlands Under 21s during his time with Moseley.
12 Danny Harris (Saracens)
A midfield wrecking ball at inside centre, Harris has built a solid professional career despite suffering from a serious shoulder condition that looked as though it could end his career.
The former England Under-21 spent moved to Bedford before spending four years at Sale from where he moved with Steve Diamond in the summer of 2004
Given the No 12 was such a problem position for Moseley in recent times the impact the 28-year-old could have made is mind-boggling.
11 Darragh O?Mahoney ( Saracens 1998-2004)
Another ? cheat? pick O?Mahoney is no longer playing in the English top flight after returning to play club rugby in his native Ireland at the end of 2003-04.
But he was one of the last internationals Moseley have fielded having played a handful of games on the wing for Ireland in the mid-1990s and finished top scorer two years running. O?Mahoney left Moseley in 1998 and spent five successful seasons with Sarries.
10 Leigh Hinton (Dragons)
Hinton is better known as a wing or full-back but played a lot of his colt rugby with Moseley at outside half.
He left Moseley in 2001, spent a year at Birmingham & Solihull moved to Orrell, Rotherham and settled for a couple of seasons at Bedford whom he kicked to Shield victory at Twickenham.
Hinton ? who is now playing in the Celtic League with Dragons ? is a classy utility back that would be invaluable to Moseley this season.
9 Scott Bemand (Leicester)
Was part of the Moseley Colts side that won the National Colts Cup in 1998 and made his first team debut in 1998 and was selected for England Students while still with the club.
He joined Harlequins in 2001 and played 30 games at The Stoop before moving to Leicester where he backs-up England scrum half Harry Ellis.
A dynamic runner, Bemand is currently injured but is part of the fabric at Welford Road. Imagine him with Ollie Thomas at fly-half.
1 Alex Clarke (Bristol)
Played 27 times for Moseley in the relegation year and then moved on to Bath from where he was loaned out to Bristol where he currently resides.
The 24-year-old initially had to be patient for his chance with Bristol ? backing up club captain David Hilton ? but broke into the side in National One last year and has made four Premiership appearances this season.
2 Lee Fortey (Worcester)
Not strictly his position but there isn?t a coach alive who hasn?t thought about turning Fortey into a hooker.
Fortey did not spend long with Moseley and is held to have forged his reputation with Birmingham & Solihull. After two seasons at Sharmans Cross Road he moved to Worcester. Comfortable in either propping position.
3 Terry Sigley (Gloucester)
Moseley regard Sigley as one of theirs; although Sigley moved from Birmingham & Solihull to Gloucester in the summer of 2004 he spent a couple of years in Moseley?s first team at Bournbrook.
A solid scrummager and mobile round the park Sigley impressed Dean Ryan enough to earn himself a three-year contract at Kingsholm in January.
Every inch a Premiership quality player.
4 Peter Short (Bath)
Made his debut for Moseley in 1998 as an 18-year-old and within one season had moved to Leicester.
Now 26-year-old Short has packed a massive amount into his career, winning Heineken Cups with the Tigers, playing for two years with Narbonne in France and returning to The Rec this season. Born in Liverpool he was a pupil at Adams Grammar in Shropshire and has developed into a player comfortable in any of the back five positions.
5 Richard Blaze (Worcester)
Blaze made his Premiership debut in Worcester?s crucial victory at Newcastle towards the end of last season. He has followed that up with two starts ? in the Wild Card match with Saracens and against Sale last month.
He is a tall, athletic lineout jumper of whom Warriors director of rugby John Brain thinks very highly and was promoted from the academy over the summer. An England Under-21 regular.
6 Peter Buxton (Gloucester)
In his fourth season at Gloucester Buxton has built a reputation as an abrasive blindside flanker.
Born in Cheltenham the 27-year-old made the step up with Newport before moving to Kingsholm in 2002. Since then he has been ever-present in the Gloucester squad.
7 Neil Mason (Worcester)
Mason is another product of the Moseley youth system who has gone on to higher things with Worcester.
He is registered at Sixways ? and may be experiencing an improvement in his prospects there after being recalled a fortnight ago ? although has played most of the campaign with Moseley.
A ferocious flanker who has added bite to the Moseley pack and surely has a future in the top flight.
8 James Scaysbrook (Bath)
Born in Sutton Coldfield the openside ? put at No 8 in this team for his ball-carrying ? is in his sixth season at Bath.
After a few quiet years he broke into the starting line-up towards the end of the last campaign as Bath were hit by injuries.
He did not miss a game from February onwards and earned himself an England A call up in the summer. The sort of player Moseley are crying out for now.
* Do you agree with Brian Dick's selections? Get in touch by email or visit our messageboard and tell us what you think *
