Collector Profile - Richard Tidy

Age: Recently joined the 40s club

 
Location: Bedwas, Caerphilly

When and how did you start collecting Groggs?

I'm reliably informed by my mum that my first Grogg was Xmas 1982. But we don't know which one it was. I used to get a 6" hollow off Santa every year. It began with 70s welsh players then moved onto countries and other internationals. A few have smashed along the way sadly. I remember one day coming home from school and finding Bob Norster lying on the shelf headless. Bad break that was and not repairable. Must have been my mum dusting the shelves. She never owned up to it mind!

Was the highlight of my xmas finding the box in my xmas stocking and then opening it up to find out who I had. I liked the way they looked. I didn't really appreciate at the time the greatness of the player. I was football mad so it's strange to think now why I loved having them so much because I had no interest in rugby at the time. I just loved the look of them. I only started following rugby in the late 80s when dad would put the 5 nations match on the TV after my saturday morning football game.

In 1988 I remeber running the Rhondda 10 mile race.  I was 13 at the time and ran it in 70 minutes. I managed to beat my dad (who was a marathon runner at the time and was not at all too pleased that I had beat him) but the highlight for me was standing next to JPR at the start line (got a photo too). After checking the results in The Rhondda Heritage the next day I discovered I had beat him too. That Xmas Santa brought me a JPR.

What were the first 3 Groggs you owned and why in particular did you pick these?

Discounting all the 6" hollows Santa brought me I believe my first three 9" hollows would have been Ian Rush, Kenny Daglish (both in Liverpool strip) and Neath Brian Williams. 

Being football mad as a kid, supporting Liverpool (and Cardiff I add), Ian Rush was my hero. I played number 9. It was the obvious choice. King Kenny was again a no brainer. The 2 of them were telepathic at times.  

As I said, it wasn't until my mid teens that I started to follow rugby. I remember going to the shop (I used to love going to the shop in those days, you never knew what you'd see or find) and seeing the Brian Williams Grogg. It was awesome. I used to watch the rugby highlights programme (the one presented by Alan Wilkins) with my dad and I always loved watching the Neath matches. The forwards were like madmen, charging everywhere and getting into the odd scrap. Plus playing in black they just looked so intimidating. There were some monsters in that pack. 

I just loved the look of the Brian Williams Grogg in the shop, with his headband and arms wrapped around the ball. I didn't buy it because of the player (I didn't really know much about props) more the fact it was a hard looking Neath forward lol. In later years I began to realise how good a player he was and the type of player every team needs. Played with his heart and soul and most definitely punched above his weight on the field.

Do you still owns these Groggs and if not why?

I've still got Rush and Dalglish. I sold the Neath Brian Williams last year. My Groggs had been up my attic for 10 years - what with work, marriage, kids etc. They ended up in cardboard boxes along with all my other sports memorabilia stuff. I had a chance meeting with a Grogg collector who I happened to tell about my collection. He asked if I wanted to sell them. Cut a long story short I sold ten 9" and 6" minis. 

It really was a cash in the attic exercise, I thought it pointless them being up the attic, and I thought the cash could pay for a holiday. Then I discovered the Facebook groups and suddenly feel back in love with Groggs. Obviously I regret selling some of the Groggs, especially for the prices I sold them at, but can't do anything about that now. Plus with regard to the Brian Williams Grogg I'm not a Neath fan. 

Personally I prefer the older Groggs (hollows) and I've come to realise they are harder to get so if I had kept some of mine I could have used them to swap with other collectors and get some specific players I'd like. e.g. Jiffy, Robert Jones.

What Grooggs do you try to collect now?

I'd love to find some country 6" hollows like the ones I have. No idea which countries were made (the shop don't have records either) but would love to add a few more.

I'd love another Ian Rush Grogg (the only player I will allow myself to have more than one Grogg of) like the 14" one that was done. I'd love one of him in the Juventus strip too.

I'd love to have 1 Grogg per region (including Celtic Warriors) but with the current club kit ban in the shop I can't see that happening for a long time (can't afford to pay the silly prices they go for on the second hand market). Given the choice I'd go for Simon Easterby Scarlets (played and coached), Any Ponty player in a Celtic Warriors shirt, Jamie Roberts Blues, Faletau Dragons and AWJ Ospreys (preferably an updated AWJ with his big beard!).
 

In terms of old hollows, I'd love to find a Jiffy, Robert Jones and Gavin Hastings. They are more realistic options as lots were made and not so rare as others. If I found a Phil Davies I'd be very happy. Loved him as a player. If I found a Blanco, OMG, I'd probably jump from the rooftops.
I'd like to expand my non-welsh Groggs, basically pick up a few more internationals. 

Would like a Jonno (hated him when he played but what a player!), would love Matfield to be done. 

Otherwise, as I said, bit by bit I'm trying to fill in a period of time when I didn't collect (2003 to 2013) so I missed a number of players, specials and club kits. I'm not obsessed with having rare rare Groggs, for me I just want specific players (and I only have 1 Grogg per player - except Ian Rush! - I can't have a massive collection) so am trying to get hold of players to gel together a collection spanning +30 years. 

I've recently picked up Martyn Williams 2005 RBS Player of the 6 Nations Grogg. I went to 4 of the 5 matches in that campaign and actually had tickets off Martyn himself for the France game (my wife worked with ex Wales prop Andrew Lewis who got it sorted). We were sitting with all the player's families, it was awesome that game. That second half, especially with Martyn scoring those 2 tries. Therefore I wanted that Grogg not just because he was awesome that championship but because I had had his tickets lo. I've recently picked up some standard Groggs that are either sold out in the shop or are early productions so have groggy finish (my favourite finish on a Grogg). Obviously if I had been buying at the time I would have picked these ones up, but thankfully for the Facebook groups I've managed to source some. 

My latest Grogg hunt is a 9" Brent Cockbain. Not everyone's cup of tea but as a Ponty fan I loved his style of play and he was such a top bloke. I'm determined to find a Grogg of him as it's no longer available via the shop for some reason.

How many Groggs do you own?

 

52 last count. 3 on order (Grand Slam Sam, Action George North and the newly re-listed Wales Michael Owen). Oh yeah, and I just bought a teddy hollow Grogg on ebay. It's going to be a present for my 9 year old daughter. Her first Grogg. It says "I love Wales". Just had to buy that for her. None are on display at moment. Lack of space and young kids. They'll be out one day.

What’s your favourite Grogg and why?

I've got 3 favourites - for 3 different reasons.

I got a one-off Caerphilly RFC Grogg which my mum and dad got commissioned in 1993 as a gift to me when I went off to university. I played youth for Caerphilly and the 92/93 season our first team secured promotion into the old Heineken League (Division 4). Nearly all the first team were made up of local players and people I knew. Special times they were. I was proud as punch to take that Grogg with me to University. My dad borrowed Dai Phillips (ex Pontypool fly half who was finishing his career at his hometown club) jersey as his dad worked with my dad. So on the back of the Grogg it's No 10, when I played that season openside (the year before I was a full back lol) in Youth. That's the only thing I'd change about the Grogg. It's 11" too. Don't think any Caerphilly Groggs have been done ever since
 

My British Lions 1997 Scott Gibbs hollow. I watched every game of that tour during my finals at Swansea Uni. My 4 years of university were spent watching England dominate the 5 Nations so come the Lions it was magical to see some of the welsh players excel on the bigger stage. Gibbs was simply awesome on that tour. That hit on Oz du Randt was the defining moment for me of that tour. Not the guscott drop goal or the Dawson dummy pass. Gibbs smashing Oz du Randt sent the boks one big message that our boys weren't gonna roll over. We were up for the fight.
 

My Ian Rush Grogg. Enough has been said on this one lol.

Are there any Groggs you regret selling, if so why?

 
The only Grogg I really regret selling is my 1994 Front Row. I bought it after we won the 5 Nations championship. It's the Welsh jerseys with green collar. I went to the last game, which we lost to England at Twickenham but it was our first success as a nation for some time. So that's why I bought it. It was £125 I think at the time. Now knowing the rarity of it at the time of selling I wish I hadn't have sold it because the chances of getting it again are pretty much impossible. Still by selling that Grogg (along with the other 15) it made me fall back in love with Groggs again. So yes I'm a bit gutted, but I'm back collecting so it's all good at the end of the day.

Who would you love to see Grogged?

How long have you got for me to answer this one. Absolutely impossible to answer with one.

From a 9" perspective I'd love any of the following:

1. A second Row combination of Jake Ball and AW Jones. Obviously both with full beards. 

2. Warren Gatland - All that he's achieved I think it's a no brainer he's Grogged. Plus the shop could could kill 2 birds with one stone and use the same mould but 2 paint jobs - 1 Wales and 1 Lions.
3. I know he's retired but I can't for the life of me understand why Colin Charvis was never Grogged in 9". He's a former captain and British lion, our 6th highest capped player (with 94 caps) and scored 22 tries for Wales. Would look great with his dreadlocks at the end of his career nd not the dodgy braided hair phase he went through.
4. Also not sure if John Eales was done already but he would be my 4th Choice.

If a non-Welsh player, then a few I'd like to see Grogged:

1. Victor Matfield - 120 Caps, still playing at 37, absolute legend.
2. I don't think an Argentine player has been Grogged before so I would like to see Felipe Contepomi Grogged - still playing at 37, 87 caps, he's Argetina's most capped player and highest points scorer. Pichot would be another choice if the shop wanted a pretier player!
3. Serge Betsen of France.

Away from rugby I'd love to see

1. Bill Shankly (You can't do Fergie and not Shanks!)
2. Ian Woosnam (when he won Masters in 91)
3. Geraint Thomas (in Welsh jersey from Commonwealth Games or for non-welsh in a Sky Tour De France jersey)
4. Usain Bolt (that would be an awesome Grogg)
5. Joe Calzage (Legend!)

And now for some photos of your collection:

Photograph Courtesy of Rich Tidy

Photograph Courtesy of Rich Tidy

Photograph Courtesy of Rich Tidy

Photograph Courtesy of Rich Tidy