A heartfelt farewell from Langley Rugby Club coach John Marsden
Published 6:00 pm Saturday, January 3, 2026
In a heartfelt farewell, departing Langley Rugby Club coach John Marsden said he will be “forever grateful” to be part of the club.
”I will always have green and gold in my blood,” said Marsden, who became the Langley women’s coach in 2021, taking them to their first ever provincial final.
”Moving to a country where you don’t know anyone and have never been can be a daunting experience,” Marsden posted in a message to the club Facebook page on Dec. 3.
“But Langley Rugby Club made sure that wasn’t the case for me. I was given a home, surrounded by good people. The people of this club came to feel like family to me, and through some hard times, this club has been there for me.”
“No one ever looks forward to calling time on their playing career, but the LRC gave me fresh purpose,” he said.
“Coaching here breathed new life into my rugby journey. The privilege and honour of being part of a club like this is something I will be forever grateful for and will never forget. So for now, I say goodbye — but hopefully not forever.”
Marsden told the Langley Advance Time he had to return to his native England when his temporary work permit could not be renewed.
“It was a very frustrating place to be,” Marsden commented.
“The government [changed] the points system and structure in March, making it impossible for someone in my position or industry to achieve permanent residency, which had been [my] major goal and objective. [It] became very disheartening.”
He didn’t expect to return, beyond brief visits.
“I loved my time in Canada and fell in love with Langley but sadly I think I have drawn a line under it and decided my time in Canada has come to an end,” Marsden said. “I will be coming back for visits and a wedding or two. But I’ll not be living and working there again.”
A club message posted online thanked Marsden “for everything you brought to our club — on and off the field. Your dedication, passion, and leadership have left a lasting impact on our community. You will always be part of the Langley Rugby family.”
An LRC profile noted Marsden, after taking the women’s team to their first provincial final, helped grow the squad to 37 players of “all different ages, abilities, and backgrounds.”
In 2024 Marsden coached the U16 Langley girls in the fall season before deciding to return to the Langley senior women’s program in 2025.