28/05/2026
Sadly, a few weeks ago, we lost a dear friend 🕊️
Alan Patrick Tindale MBE 19th March 1967 ~ 17th April 2026
We’ve lost a friend, a mentor… and, let’s be honest, one of the best blokes you could hope to meet. Al had time for everyone. Always. Even when you didn’t deserve it. Especially then. He gave advice. Good advice. Usually followed by ruthless banter that reminded you not to get too confident. He had a gift for lifting people up — and taking them down a peg straight after. Perfect balance.
Rugby wasn’t just a hobby for Al. It was basically in his bloodstream. Pitch, sideline, changing room — he owned them all. Loudly. He called the plays. He set the standards. And somehow, you actually wanted to live up to them.
He tackled life like he tackled everything else — straight on, no fuss, no fear, no backing out. We’ll remember the mud. The bruises. The questionable decisions after the final whistle. And Al, right in the middle of it all — probably leading the stories and definitely winning the arguments. Win or lose didn’t matter. Though, to be fair, he had strong opinions on both. He was loyal, passionate, and always there for his team.
Then he became a referee — which felt like a natural progression for someone who loved telling people what they were doing wrong. Whistle in hand, authority unlocked. He took it seriously, though. Especially with the minis and juniors.
Teaching them the game, encouraging them, and no doubt quietly wondering why they weren’t running his plays properly. He mentored the next generation the same way he led us — with passion, patience, and just enough cheek to keep everyone grounded. Win or lose didn’t matter. Though if you asked him, losing usually involved “interesting decisions from the ref.”
Funny, that.
Al leaves a massive gap. The kind you can’t fill. Leader, mate, legend — no title required. You followed him because you wanted to. Simple as that.
And if we’re honest, most of us still would.
Our thoughts are with Paula and the family.
They’ve lost the most. And we’re all feeling it with them.
RIP Rugby Brother
🔴⚫️💫
