CasTigers.net recently caught up with former skipper, Man of Steel and modern day Castleford legend Adrian Vowles. In part 1 of a three part interview, Adrian looks back on his arrival in the UK, a difficult start and looks back a decade to 1999, the season when Cas went so close to English rugby league's biggest prizes.

[url=http://thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/viewstory.php?id=2932Click here to read[/url.

In part two of my conversation with Adrian Vowles, we look back on the years that followed 1999, reflecting on Stuart Raper's departure; the story behind Adrian's transfer to Leeds, coaching role at Wakefield and subsequent returns to Cas, culminating in the Grand Final success of 2005.

[url=http://thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/viewstory.php?id=2933Click here to read[/url.

In the concluding part of my conversation with Adrian Vowles, he looks back on his Cas career as a whole, recalls the day the Tigers' squad "crushed" Mark Lennon's car and discusses the current Tigers' setup and a possible return.

[url=http://thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/viewstory.php?id=2934Click here to read[/url.

The guy is an absolute Cas Legend, privelideged that I got to watch him play in a Cas shirt.

Cracking read Stu..

Great read, looking forward to the next installment

If only i could find a copy of the Wigan and Leeds play off games from that year.....

I remember his first few games, he kept throwing bullet passes out to the winger. The winger kept missing them and the ball ended up in the stand

He did it a lot in his first few games.
But credit to him, aside from his first few games he was awesome and always gave 110%.

Biggest thing for Vowles was finding his postion, he came as a standoff but made loose forward his own after a few games at centre.

One of the hardest men to put the shirt on in my opinion.

No pun intended

A legend. Where is Dale Fritz now though ?

last I heard he was running his own fitness company in his home town

Cue people with starry eyes going on about the Saints 2nd half Barmy Army chant.....I was there and my throat is still sore!

Top read and brings back great memories of a fantastic season. Many modern day fans of other clubs will only know Cas as a side that struggles around the bottom of the top flight - 1999 was different being the last time that we really were up there near the top since summer rugby began.

It's criminal that the club failed to invest and kick on from that season to be a side that regularly contested for trophies. Instead we gradually went backwards resulting in the calamitous happenings of 2004 and subsequent yo-yoing.

Got to be said, we seem to be in a cycle, culminating in challenging for honours, then being on a downer for a few years before rising to challenge again. Just look what happened after the 1994 season. That year we were in finals, we were winning trophies, then the decline.......

Bump.

In part two of my conversation with Adrian Vowles, we look back on the years that followed 1999, reflecting on Stuart Raper's departure; the story behind Adrian's transfer to Leeds, coaching role at Wakefield and subsequent returns to Cas, culminating in the Grand Final success of 2005.

[url=http://thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/viewstory.php?id=2933Click here to read[/url.

steadman was like a cancer at the club from day 1 - ask any player who played for him, no one liked him one bit. complete to55er at times in training!!!

caman 2

i have the wigan game on good old vcr

and the leeds game highlights on stu rapers christmas cracker

why didn't you ask me , I have both on DVD

TBH. I think he's got copies now....

Remember him doing the bullet passes out to the wingers which ended up in the stand a few times lol. Also his unusual (but effective) tackling method of running and just barging whoever is was over and onto the floor.

Good player and nice bloke to boot

In the concluding part of my conversation with Adrian Vowles, he looks back on his Cas career as a whole, recalls the day the Tigers' squad "crushed" Mark Lennon's car and discusses the current Tigers' setup and a possible return.

[url=http://thecastlefordtigers.co.uk/viewstory.php?id=2934Click here to read[/url.

Absolutely cracking interview from start to finish

Simply put......legend.

Would be nice to see RW read it and maybe comment on some of the things Vowles has suggested

.. Or stick some kind of poster up in the dressing room.



Great series Stu

Agreed

Some comments were fantastic and could help our guys, especially the Aussies