Team spirit and trying new things – Phillip’s story

There really is something for everyone when it comes to sport in the RAF. Corporal Phillip Morley-Jones talks to us about his varied sporting career and how a rugby injury led to a change in direction that included coaching, competing in tug of war and becoming a safety official for RAF Bobsleigh.

“My sporting story starts before I joined the RAF as I had always been a keen rugby player. I first played for the Bolton Youth Team before moving to Leyland Warriors where I was then chosen to represent the Northwest Counties Rugby League team and later, the Bolton Mets Open Age team.

On joining the RAF in 2002, I was eager to continue with rugby league and joined the RAF Coningsby Station team at my first posting. I played with Coningsby for a few years before I was unfortunately injured and unable to continue. I was out of the sporting world for at least five years but eventually convinced myself to get back into it once fully fit again. I returned to playing rugby but also wanted to find a sport that didn’t put my body through as much!

I came across RAF Bobsleigh and was interested in seeing what it was all about. I went along to the trials at Bath University and thoroughly enjoyed it! Through funding provided by the RAF Central Fund’s support to the Sports Associations, I was lucky enough to go to Austria for a training week which led to various Inter-Service camps. Sadly, I wasn’t chosen to compete for the RAF but being there and part of the team was enough for me. There are several roles available in sport other than just playing and today I am a safety official for the RAF Bobsleigh Team.

In 2016, at RAF Brize Norton, I started strongman training and was asked one day if I wanted to try tug of war. With my drive for trying new things, I agreed to go to the Inter-Station event at RAF Cosford where my eyes where quickly opened to the world of tug of war! We went on to win for Brize Norton and I was approached to attend the next RAF Tug of War event. This was where the sport really started getting into my veins and I must have been ok at it as I was asked to compete in the Inter-Services that year! Wanting to improve, I spoke to a couple of fellow pullers for guidance on training, advice that I still pass on to new members of the team today.

Having established myself in the team, I went to several Inter-Services and was also able to compete at various Royal Highland Games in Braemar School, events that members of the Royal Family attend for the finals. Over the years I have been fortunate enough to be part of multiple teams, including the Tri-Service team, Elgin Tug of War team and have also represented Scotland at the British and Irish Championship whilst based at RAF Lossiemouth. Again, through Central Fund support, the RAF team have been on a USA tour to showcase our skills at the New Glarus Wisconsin event.

Today, I am a qualified tug of war coach and can pass on the advice once given to me. When I was posted to RAF Odiham, I decided to set up a new team as there hadn’t previously been one. Having only started the team this year, we were a late entry into the league, but I was able to take the Odiham team to the prestigious Royal Highland Games with the help of a couple of colleagues.

I believe that all sport is important to people on an individual basis. Personally, I have found tug of war to be a great team environment to gain confidence and leadership qualities that I can bring back to my day job. You can’t be a one-man band in this sport, you need to work as a team, in time with each other and against your opposition.

The RAF Central Fund has been a consistent source of support throughout my time playing sport in the RAF.

The RAF Central Fund has been a consistent source of support throughout my time playing sport in the RAF. Through the mentioned support of the Associations and Station club funding to their Individual Sports Grants scheme. The financial assistance provided by the Fund has helped massively towards the kit required for my sports and goes a long way in relieving some of the stress that comes with making sure you have enough funding for the season ahead. I have played the RAF Sports Lottery since I joined up in 2002 and although I have never won, I know that the money supports the assistance that the Fund continue to provide to serving personnel. I hold the maximum of six tickets a week in the hope of a win but also so that I can help others as well as my sport.

For anyone that is looking for a club or sport they want to get involved in here are a few tips –

• Speak to your Gymnasium and see if there is a club already at your Station/Unit. If there isn’t and there is enough mutual interest, reach out to the Central Fund to see if they can help you get it off the ground.
• Social media is a great source of information about RAF Sport. Most of the Sports Associations have a Facebook, Instagram or Twitter that they will advertise their taster sessions on, and you can message the team with any questions you have. Also, the RAF Central Fund’s socials are a great ‘all in one’ place to find out about the latest taster events, along with their charity news and Sports Lottery results.
• If anyone would like to get involved with RAF Tug of War or RAF Bobsleigh, then please don’t hesitate to contact me on MODNET.

My last word to any sport newbies – we were all where you are now, you just have to put yourself out there and try something new. There are plenty of people out there to ask about the sports you’re interested in.”

Cpl Phillip Morley-Jones