
If it hadn’t been for a Kendal and Cumbria rugby legend, goal-kicking ace Chris Park might never have reached a very special milestone for the Mint Bridge club.
It was the late Peter Kremer who persuaded Park to concentrate on rugby when he was trying to breakthrough at Kendal Town.
Park, now 39, had joined Blackburn Rovers when he was 14 after being scouted locally while playing his football at Queen Katherine School in Kendal.
He had hopes of being offered a contract when he was 18 but that didn’t materialise and he spent times with Preston North End and Morecambe before ending up at Kendal Town.
“It was about then that Peter asked me to concentrate on my rugby. It was the first time I’d spoken to him and unfortunately he died soon afterwards.
“He had seen me playing for Kendal Colts when I was still at school. It was football for St Katherine’s on a Saturday and Colts rugby on the Sunday.
“I didn’t have another chance to speak to Peter after that but as they say the rest is history.”
On Saturday Park reached 1,000 points for the Kendal first team, joining a select band of former players.
“It’s something I hadn’t thought anything about until a couple of years ago when I was told I was on 850.
“Obviously I knew it was very close these last few weeks to 1,000 and it’s nice to reach that figure.
“I have played full-back, wing and fly-half over the years and there have been times I haven’t been the number one kicker.
“Players like Mark Ireland, Mike Scott, Dan Stephens and Glen Weightman have all been team-mates over the years and kicked a lot of goals between them.
“But I have to admit the main focus now is on making sure we win our last three games and make sure we are promoted into the new-look League structure next season.
“I haven’t thought about retirement but I have a building business which takes up time and we will just have to wait and see. The thing is you never say never.”
During the latest game with Stockport his second conversion took him to the magic 1,000 points and afterwards he was presented with a special personalised top.
Liam Hayton is the only member of the present team who was playing when Park started, and he recently clocked up 400 appearances.
With 370 games under his own belt, stepping up to Hayton’s milestone figure might be just the incentive he needs to keep going.