Richard Arnold has quit as coach at Westoe after three eventful seasons in which the first XV's achievements have reached heights that only the most optimistic and romantic of Wood Terrace devotees would have thought possible.

He has been appointed as head of rugby at the University of Northumberland, a full-time job which is a splendid career move for the muscular, 6ft 4ins back row hard man from New Zealand who arrived at Newcastle Gosforth – the embryo Falcons side – in 1991 for a solitary season, but remained to become a legendary figure on the North East rugby scene.

"Arnie", who played a vital part in the Falcon's ascent into the Premiership and their championship triumph in 1997-98, was rewarded by becoming the first Kingston Park player to be given a testimonial.

When his playing days at that level ended, he retained strong links with the club with a major role in community work spreading rugby to schools, colleges and other institutions as well as acting in a PR capacity.

Those links have now also been severed, and he told me: "I had a very strange feeling when I drove out through the gates of Kingston Park knowing I was no longer a part of it. I came for one season only and stayed exactly 16 years and two days!

"I feel much the same saying 'goodbye' to the players and my friends at Westoe. I have had a fantastic time here and it has been an experience I feel has really advanced my coaching career."

But the good news for the club and its supporters is that he is being replaced by another Falcons star, Russell Winter, a former South Africa "A" captain who played for Johannesburg-based Lions in the Currie Cup.

Arnie said: "He is a terrific bloke who really knows his rugby and I've no doubt that he will be very good for Westoe.

"I do regret that my new job means leaving the club just at the start of the season, but in the build up to it I have helped put things in place and I believe this squad is well capable of winning promotion."

Westoe, runaway champions of Durham and Northumberland Division One in 2000-01, were beginning to languish in North Two (East) when Arnold arrived as player-coach at the start of the 2004-05 campaign aided by Kingston Park compatriot Joe Shaw.

Though hard taskmasters, they quickly won the respect and affection of the mostly home-grown players who responded to their demands for peak fitness and a rigid doctrine of "defence, defence, defence" as the bedrock of their game.

The transformation was dramatic and, under new captain Gareth Nesbit, the team had by far the most memorable season since Westoe's creation way back in 1875.

They were not only promoted as champions to North One – in which in both seasons since they have just missed out on the runners-up spot with its play-off chance of elevation to the national elite – but also reached Twickenham in the final of the Intermediate Cup where, despite winning most possession, were beaten by Morley.

Joe Shaw, who has new challenges within the game, will also withdraw leaving newly arrived Kiwi Ian Tulloch to coach the backs.

Vice-chairman and first team manager Duncan Murray said: "Arnie and Joe made an immense contribution and we wish them both well. But in Russell and Ian we have the ideal pair to carry on their good work."

Arnie added: "I'll pop back from time to time to see how things are going and if in my new job I can direct promising players towards Westoe, I will because it is a fine club. And I'll always be available at the end of the telephone."