Monkstown’s favourite son favours clipboard over famous number 9 shirt after historic 20 sky-blue years

Gareth Watkins leading Monkstown’s celebrations as their 2011 Mills Cup win ended 23 years without a title. Pic: Adrian Boehm

For the first time this millennium, Monkstown took the field last Saturday without Gareth Watkins donning the number nine jersey for the first day of the season.