Michael Melford (born 1984) is a retired English

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...

player who plays as a winger. He has spent most of his semi-professional rugby career with

Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. ...

during the most successful spell of the clubs career to date, which included a spell as club captain. With over 90 tries for his club in

National League 2 South National League 2 South (known before September 2009 as National Division Three South) was a level four league in the English rugby union system until the end of season 2021–22. It was one of two leagues at this level, with its counterpart, N ...

alone, he has become one of the most prolific try scorers in the competition's history. He currently runs a personal training business in

Chatham, Kent Chatham ( ) is a town located within the Medway unitary authority in the ceremonial county of Kent, England. The town forms a conurbation with neighbouring towns Gillingham, Rochester, Strood and Rainham. The town developed around Chatham ...

Career

Rise and Fall of Canterbury

After graduating from

Loughborough University Loughborough University (abbreviated as ''Lough'' or ''Lboro'' for post-nominals) is a public research university in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, England. It has been a university since 1966, but it dates back to 1909, when L ...

, Mike joined

in Kent in 2005, where he enjoyed a successful first season at the club as they won both the London Division 1 league title and retained the Kent Cup. The 2006–07 season saw the club finish 4th in National Division 3 South (excellent for a promoted side) with Mike playing all 26 games, scoring 16 tries in the process. The club also won the Kent Cup for the third year running, with Mike featuring as his side defeated

Blackheath Blackheath may refer to: Places England *Blackheath, London, England ** Blackheath railway station **Hundred of Blackheath, Kent, an ancient hundred in the north west of the county of Kent, England *Blackheath, Surrey, England ** Hundred of Blackh ...

41–27 in the final held at

Maidstone Maidstone is the largest Town status in the United Kingdom, town in Kent, England, of which it is the county town. Maidstone is historically important and lies 32 miles (51 km) east-south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the c ...

rugby club. The next season finished in much the same way, with Canterbury once again finishing 4th in the league and winning the Kent Cup for the fourth year running. The 2008–09 season saw Mike have one of his most prolific spells of his career with the club as he finished the second highest try scorer in the division with 22 tries from just 23 games, with Canterbury finishing 5th in the league. After a fairly low-key 2009–10 season, 2011–12 proved to be bittersweet for Mike.On the one hand he managed a career best total of 23 tries in National 3 South, but on the other it was for a relegated side as Canterbury went down at the end of the season, losing their final game at home to relegation rivals Westcombe Park, 18–25, condemning them to the drop, just 1 point off safety. At the end of the season Mike's try scoring exploits would lead him to be called up for the

Kent Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...

county team taking part in the 2011 County Championships, although this too was a disappointment as Kent were relegated from Division 1 of the competition.

Return to the National Leagues

Although Canterbury were relegated from the National Leagues, Mike stayed at the club and was made captain in June 2011, replacing Chris Hinkins who became player-coach. His debut season as captain was a successful one as Canterbury took

National League 3 South-West Regional 1 South West (formerly South West Premier and National League 3 South West) is a level five league in the English rugby union system. It is one of six leagues at this level. When this division began in 1987 it was known as South West D ...

by storm, winning 24 out of 26 games to win the league title and promotion back to

. The 2012–13 season would be his last with Canterbury as the newly promoted side finished mid-table, with Mike scoring 5 tries from 19 appearances to bow out after 8 seasons with the club.

Season-by-season playing stats

Honours and records

Canterbury *

National League 3 London & SE Regional 1 South East (up until 2022-23 known as London & South East Premier and up until 2016-17 known as National League 3 London & South East) is a level five league in the English rugby union system. It is one of six leagues at this level. ...

champions (2): 2005–06, 2011–12 *Kent Cup winners (3): 2006, 2007, 2008 Kent *Called up for County Championships: 2011 International/Representative *Capped by England Universities

References

External links

Canterbury RFCKent RFU
{{DEFAULTSORT:Melford, Michael 1984 births Living people Alumni of Loughborough University English rugby union players Rugby union players from Kent Rugby union wings