ONE of AJ’s closest pals Bryn Thompson has sent us two wonderful tributes from our own Shotts, and former Wilmslow player/coach Peter Cook:

Shotts wrote:
Bryn,
I just wanted to say a few words to record this moment.  It’s a sad day for all of us, and for rugby.  That said, AJ’s memory is too strong to die.  So for the record, here is my version of my memory of AJ Hall.
What a shock!  What a man!  What a rugby player – a player’s player if ever there were one.  A hackneyed phrase, but one that’s absolutely applicable to this man, with whom I shared three years, many nights of hilarious banter, and few duels pitch-side with, thankfully most with him, and only two against him.
Thanks for letting me know, and quite honestly I did not believe what I was reading.  40 years old – no age at all.  Please pass on my heartfelt and sincere condolences to his wife, family, and his (and your friends).  I did not know his wife or family, but that will not matter one jot.
I knew AJ from the game we shared, loved, cared for, developed, prayed for, and followed incessantly – we both had passion for it, despite coming from opposite sides of the country, and perhaps opposite sides of the rugby divide!  He was a hard man, but never ever did I see him do something without either provocation, nor reason.
Trust me he was no angel, but his actions were always for a reason.  When I say he was hard, he was naturally hard.  The team-talks you spoke of, the words of which may have been delivered by Peter, but the living embodiment was AJ.  The three musketeers -  AJ, Cookie, and Chris Campbell, three very different characters, but what a team of committed, front-foot rugby players they were.  To be fair to them all, they swept us lot along in their wake, and for three great years I followed willingly.
I was close in my own way with AJ.  We were different people.  I was a 7 of whom he had great distrust as he thought of me a glory boy, he was the hooker – the enforcer.  He spoke in a different accent, his background was different to mine – who else goes Widnes, Burnage, Streatham & Croydon, Staines, and Wilmlsow – not an oft-trodden road I admit.
Despite our differences we both loved winning, and that’s where we met.  That line was all we ever needed.  I trained harder than I’ve ever trained.  In that I believe I earned respect from AJ, which was a real achievement.  He considered me a worthy teammate because at least I was prepared.  He was always prepared – always ready, and always willing – I may have been faster than  AJ, but he’d never let me rest on that laurel.  I may have been quicker to the ruck or the maul, but he was so destructive once he’d hit it, I often followed him in.  It made me look good, but the real damage was done by AJ – all barrel chested, puffing, snorting, and goatie-beard snarling like a Viking.  I just picked up the pieces from the sorry mess created by him.
The legendry coffee and biscuits sessions upstairs in the committee room where Cookie, pre-match would prowl, and growl, and Campbell would get ready to weave magic, was also AJ’s stage – his commitment for the upcoming battle was absolute, complete, and infectious.  He was the thing Cookie spoke of – passion.
In après rugby also,  mine and AJ’s cultured collided, where some monumental booze-ups were often followed by my wife wishing I would retire, and me having lost another kit bag leaving it in some taxi or other en route to Manchester – again!  If the years took their toll and I ever considered retiring, how could I?  AJ would never have allowed it.  I fear he would find me playing golf, or practising my serve, and frog march me to training insisting I run 10 pyramids with him as a warm up/punishment for even daring to not grace the field with him.  He took our games so seriously, it was no coincidence we won most of them.  In fact, the odd defeat would drive AJ on further to find out why.  Most men just take it on the chin.  AJ had a sort of inner defiance that we (he actually) were better than that.
It’s true, we were very different, but strangely oh so alike.  I’d go as far as to say he’d be the hooker in my “those with whom I’ve played” fantasy world XV.  Anyone who played with him would say that, so his legend will live on.  Of that let there be no doubt.  His infectious spirit, which touched me in life, will now again touch me in his death.  Gone perhaps physically, but long to be revered in this part of Wilmlsow (twinned with Widnes!).  There will be parts of the east midlands I doubt not for one second where similar memories will abound.  That said, for me who knew him for only three years, wanted to share the memory of a great man, a hard man, and a gentle man in his own unique way.
AJ – see you on the other side for a game of touch perhaps?
Yours,
Shotts

Pete Cook sent the email below to Bryn’s mate Joe on Friday night. Bryn adds: ” It’s probably fitting that a legend such a Cooky should have the last word here:

Dear Joe
What fantastic sentiments.  Thanks for passing them on.
AJ was what we all respect about the game we love.  He was an honest, solid and talented player who quickly gained the respect of all the players he played with or against.  He would never take a backward step and made the life on the dark side of the front row his home.  You would certainly rather have him on your side than see him lining up against you.
I had many happy seasons playing with AJ both at Nottingham and Wilmslow where he added much, bringing his undoubted talent to the fore at whatever level he played.  Most of us have never had to experience the face to face conflict of the front row where you must stand and be counted.  All his opponents respected his knowledge and uncompromising approach to the game.  They knew they had been in a game!
AJ was a great role model and catalyst, instilling self belief in lesser players and encouraging all his team mates to play to the best of their abilities and at times beyond them because they did not want to let such a noble leader down.
Nothing gave me greater pleasure in my playing career than to step out with AJ for one last time on Boxing Day this past Christmas for the last ten minutes of that match.  The reception he received from all that turned out that day illustrated how much he has meant to so many throughout his life not only in the game but in the Bakewell community.
He is the epitome of what this great game brings to the players that play it - respect and admiration!  There are always memorable players from every era at every club and all those who have had the pleasure of experiencing AJ’s performances both on and off the field will have lasting memories of what he has contributed during his time with them.  They, like me, will reflect on these over the next few weeks as the realisation of the passing of such a great player and more importantly ‘a great man’ flash back through our minds each time we sit and think.
He applied the same level of focus and determination to face the challenge of his illness and in so doing continued to gain the respect and support of all who loved and appreciated his contribution to their lives.  His passing leaves a big hole in a large number of lives as will be reflected in the messages that come flooding in when people receive the news.
I can only offer my sincerest condolences to Judd and their children, Phil and the rest of his family.  If there is anything I can do to assist in any way then please let me know.
Peter Cook
Headmaster
Wellow House School
Wellow
Newark
Notts
NG22 0EA
Tel: 01623 861054
Fax: 01623 836665