Gerard McCarthy jokes he could write a book about the fun he has had with the North Otago rugby team.
But, as the old adage says - what goes on tour, stays on tour.
McCarthy was appointed manager in 2000 - the year after he arrived in Oamaru as a wool field officer for Wrightson and the same year Glenn Moore was appointed coach.
Moore - now Highlanders coach - took the side to three third division finals and, after winning promotion to second division in 2002, took North Otago to three semifinals over the following three years.
McCarthy found Moore a good leader and very focused on what he wanted.
He was a very professional coach and, with his attitude, hunger to succeed and passion for the game, McCarthy knew he was going to go a long way.
"I'd say give him time. I'm sure things will fall into place. I think he will be very successful," he said.
Former Irish international midfielder Mike Mullins and ex-Hurricanes hooker Shane Carter are now at the helm - winning the Heartland championship in 2007 - and McCarthy has equally enjoyed his time with them.
Mullins was a professional rugby player and had a new and fresh approach and combined with Carter, it was a good mix, he said.
McCarthy also praised the host of other support staff - his co-managers Chris Kernahan in 2000 and 2001, and Murray Pearson since then, and the assistant coaches, trainers and physiotherapists who were "all great people to work with".
A successful manager needed to be good with people, well organised, able to think ahead, patient, a "father figure", a good listener and committed.
"Definitely committed," he said.
The job involved being in charge of travel, accommodation, player welfare, team logistics, game day management and sideline management.
It had been a great nine years - a "tremendous journey" - and one of the highlights was the recent three-match tour to Japan.
The tour was two years in the making and the result of a lot of hard work done by North Otago Rugby Football Union chief executive Colin Jackson and contacts in Japan.
It was a challenge in terms of the language, culture and sheer size of their Japanese opponents, McCarthy said.
The North Otago team was looked after very well and one of the highlights was a function at the New Zealand embassy in Tokyo, where they promoted Ostler wines from the Waitaki Valley, Whitestone Cheese and New Zealand meat, along with playing a North Otago promotional DVD.
McCarthy was grateful for the support of his employer, PGG Wrightson, where he now works as a rural supplies technical field representative.
He will remain involved with rugby, as president of the Athletic club, and will have more time to watch the sport.
He left North Otago rugby in good heart - "because we fight above our weight" - but was disappointed the New Zealand Rugby Football Union did not appear to hold much passion for the smaller unions.
"We're not going to lie down and die," he said.
Club rugby and JAB rugby needed to be protected, for the future, and he believed clubs needed to work together more to stay viable.
"It's not easy to try and get teams on to the field," he said.
McCarthy's replacement is Duncan Kingan who has been heavily involved with the Valley club.
