FIRST BUS FIRSTS: Sports stars reveal bus trips drove them in winning direction
Rugby League World Cup semi-finalist Caitlin Beevers, preparing with the England squad for their crunch game on Monday, has fond memories of the camaraderie and laughter she enjoyed when travelling by bus with team-mates from college to training.
The Leeds Rhinos full back firmly believes she wouldn’t be in the position she is today if it hadn’t been for local bus services.
“If I hadn’t been able to get the bus to training it would probably have hindered by spotting selection,” she said.
“Getting the bus twice a week was good to get to know each other a bit more outside of training.”
Caitlin has helped First Bus to make a series of short films with well-known people and members of the public called First Bus Firsts, to show how important the bus can be in shaping choices and connecting with a passion in life to encourage more people to try bus travel.
Yorkshire and England bowling legend Ryan Sidebottom recalls being a nine-year-old going to a football match for the first time with his dad, Arnie, who also played for the club and England and enjoyed a career in football at Manchester United.
“After being on the bus I was very inspired. I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps and play football or cricket professionally,” he said.
He says winning the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean in 2010 was his England career highlight and he is hoping the current team can repeat their success when they take on Pakistan in the final on Sunday, November 13..
Ryan says the bus trips were special and helped him to think because of the time he got to spend with his dad, who would be away from home a lot with playing duties.
He said: “It meant so much to talk about sport and have quality time with my dad. It was something I always loved.”
For Arnie, the bus trips were precious moments with his son. He said: “To go on the bus to a match was a fantastic day out for both of us.”
He too is certain how important the bus was to the career he enjoyed at the highest level in two different sports.
“If I wouldn’t have had the bus to get to the nets at Headingley my career wouldn’t have progressed,” he says.
Getting the bus to a trial match that would see him eventually play with George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law was just as pivotal in his life. He added: “I would have been stuck in my own town in a career I didn’t want. The bus means everything, to be fair.”
The films with Caitlin and Ryan and his dad can be seen on a dedicated webpage www.firstbus.co.uk/firsts and others in the series will be added in the coming weeks.
Also watch on YouTube here: