WHEN Alan Martinovic met Duncan Bell, Ben Johnson was about to cheat his way to Olympic victory in the dirtiest race in history.
A quarter of a century down the line, two circuitous career routes bring them back together tomorrow – for a National League Two South derby.
Hartpury RFC rugby director Martinovic recruited 14-year-old Bell for Colston's Collegiate School, all the way back in 1988.
As the Seoul Olympics raged on the other side of the world, a promising prop from King's Lynn settled into rugby the Martinovic way.
Talent-spotter extraordinaire Martinovic launched countless top-flight and international careers at Colston's.
Now continuing the feat at Hartpury, Martinovic's potent Saturday side are still gunning for promotion glory.
From Colston's to Bath, via Ebbw Vale, Sale Sharks and Pontypridd, five-cap former England prop Bell is in the grip of his first coaching challenge with the Severnsiders.
For Martinovic, the teacher versus former pupil routine is becoming worryingly familiar – while Bell is relishing a derby contest that doubles as a culture clash.
"I am coming up against an increasing number of coaches who were once pupils I taught and players I coached!" laughed Martinovic.
"There was a time when it would just be rubbing shoulders with them, with me as coach and them as players.
"It's a big challenge for players to move into coaching.
"Professional players have things well mapped out for them.
"But as coaches they need to be the ones who are making the decisions, and setting the agenda.
"Duncan has a wealth of experience from his professional playing career, and is already bringing that to bear in his coaching.
"There's no doubt that the players at Lydney are already benefiting from all the knowledge he has built up over the years."
If financial advisor Bell were to audit Martinovic's continuing coaching credentials, there would be no red flags.
The 38-year-old Lydney boss explained: "Alan was the one who recruited me for Colston's.
"He was a great coach back then, very astute tactically, and of course he still is.
"His scouting abilities have been up there with the best for a very long time.
"Just look at the track record of players that Colston's have produced for England and the British Lions.
"And he's still working just as hard with just as much end-product now.
"He's still scouting and recruiting as strongly as ever – I'm not sure he ever has a day off.
"Alan is a huge asset to Hartpury, a great coach and someone I've always looked up since I first met him."
Hartpury host tomorrow's clash (kick-off 2.30pm), admitting they need six wins from their final six league games to stay in the promotion race.
Martinovic's men must overhaul Henley into second place to make the promotion play-offs, and trail the Oxfordshire side by eight points.
Battling Lydney meanwhile have targeted three wins from their final five league games, to stave off relegation.
Hartpury boss Martinovic expects a fierce test, especially after Lydney beat Launceston at home two weeks ago.
Hoping to field an unchanged team from their 26-19 Redruth victory, Martinovic added: "Lydney have produced some very good results recently – so this will be a big test for us.
"They had a great win over Launceston, and that's a team that we drew with away and lost to at home.
"So we will most certainly not be underestimating what Lydney can do.
"And on top of that it's a local derby as well, so there's a huge amount of emotion and local pride at stake."
Sweating on the fitness of Danny Trigg, Lydney will definitely be without locks Dave Bennett and Sam Thomson tomorrow.
Bell believes Lydney are comfortable with the underdogs tag.
Powerhouse further education college versus homespun Forest of Dean club – the team-talk writes itself.
Bell said: "We'll fire up our players with it being a derby.
"This is two teams at opposite ends of the rugby spectrum ultimately.
"We're definitely underdogs, but stranger things have happened than us winning in a game like this."
