A remarkable rugby story
When Bideford RFC Ladies happily trudged off the field with a 78-5 victory over Withycombe on December 4, the moment of sporting satisfaction was overwhelmed by a sense of deep pride felt all around the club.
Flanker Alison Mower played the opening 20 minutes of a terrific display and performed with a level of intensity that told just a fraction of her incredible story.
Alison reappeared for the final eight minutes of the game and, despite her relatively brief outing, she was named hero of the match. Behind the enjoyment of a powerful win for Bideford was an astonishing tale of recovery, support and dedication for the 26 year-old teacher at East-the-Water Primary School.
“I first started playing rugby last year after a taster session at Bideford Rugby Club and I just loved it from the start,” said Alison. “My father-in-law, Steve Bubyer, is a rugby referee and he encouraged me to go along. My degree is in sports coaching but rugby was my first team sport.
“Around 12 months ago, I started suffering from a migraine that wouldn’t go away and a weakness down the right side of my body. Over the Christmas holidays, it just got progressively worse, and I ended up in hospital because I couldn’t move the right side of my body.
“I was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), which was absolutely terrifying at the time. Since then, I have been undergoing all sorts of rehab to get me back to normal.
“I haven’t been able to work and rugby has been really important for me, just to watch and be there for the social side, because I was stuck at home and unable to move.
“At first, I was in a wheelchair and then began using a walking frame, which gave me the opportunity to start watching rugby again. It was a huge thing for me because it gave me something to focus on and look forward to each week.
“When I was first diagnosed, I spent a lot of time researching the disorder and looking for people in a similar position. The main thing the doctors told me was that I could get better, and it wasn’t necessarily a lifelong disorder.
“I heard of a girl from the same gym that had similar symptoms and there is a charity called FND Friends based in Newton Abbot, so I spoke with them via Facebook.” After receiving this terrifying diagnosis, Alison began the long journey back to full mobility, with the long-term dream of one day playing rugby again.
However, such is the uncertainty with FND and how different individuals can be affected, there was a genuine fear that Alison, who is due to marry her partner Paul Robinson next summer, might not have been able to even walk down the aisle.
Rugby, once again, played a massive role in Alison’s remarkable recovery.
“The doctors said that FND could always be with me but because I have learned to manage the symptoms, it will hopefully never come back with the same severity.
“One of my friends from rugby sent me some colouring books to keep me occupied and just connecting with people on the group chat was really nice.
“There was a thought that I might never play rugby again but one of the coaches, Tony Picillo, said that ‘no matter what, we’ll get you playing’. I went to a home game in February and the coaches said I was not to stand with the supporters but to be in with the group as a Bideford RFC player.
“They all made sure I was part of the team until the end of the season and it was in April / May that I began walking again. During the summer, we had fitness sessions and I would start with just ten minutes before gradually building up to more.
“It was really exciting for me and everyone at the club was supportive. Coach Dan Blight drives me to training every week and our head coach Jason Gubb, who I have known since I was a baby, was so proud that I made it back to rugby.
“I also had lots of letters from my class at the Primary School and I started to work there again voluntarily in October. Hopefully, I will be able to restart work properly in the new year.
“When the rugby season started again, we played the first ever Bideford Ladies inter-club match for charity, which was amazing that we had enough players for two teams to play against each other.
“At the time, the pitches were still rock hard from such a dry summer, so there was no contact, just touch rugby, which meant I was allowed to play. I played 20 minutes of the game and absolutely loved it.
“I had an appointment with the doctors at the beginning of December and they said I was allowed to play full contact rugby again. Within six days, I was back on the pitch for Bideford.
“I was just so hungry for the game against Withycombe and I remember getting the ball and charging through the middle. I don’t really remember much of it but the Bideford girls said the Withycombe players were just pinging off me as I was running.
“I played the first 20 minutes of the match and then came off to be safe. I went back on at the end of the game and an amazing feeling to play rugby. Before the game, our forward pack leader Chloe Spearman gave a speech that made me feel so emotional and thankful.
“After the game, we have a tradition that the best forward and the best pack of the match have to down a pint, but I was named hero of the match because of the journey I had been on.
“The past year has been such a difficult experience but 2023 will hopefully be amazing. I am getting married next year and my partner Paul has been so supportive throughout.
“After my first diagnosis, we weren’t sure if I would be able to walk down the aisle for my own wedding but rugby even helped with that, as the coaches had a plan to carry me on the day if needed. Rugby has been my support all the way through.”
Alison’s amazing story is one of individual courage and the togetherness that comes from playing sport. It is fantastic to see this talented rugby player back on the pitch, doing what she loves.
