LEGENDS IN MY LIFETIME · VOLUME ONE
Will Raison
A Champion in the Making
From the new kid in the England squad to World Champion.
Will Raison — a World Champion whose journey I have watched for three decades.
A Young Angler with a Remarkable Future
It was 1996. My own international career representing Wales was drawing to a close, while another young angler’s journey was just beginning.
Dick Clegg had brought a young Will Raison into the England squad. He was the new kid on the block, but there was already a feeling among those who knew the sport that this young man was destined for something special.
There was a quiet confidence about Will, backed by natural ability, dedication and an extraordinary understanding of fish and fishing.
Looking back now, it is wonderful to think that I was there near the beginning of a career that would take him to the very top of international match fishing.
The Making of a Champion
Fishing had been part of Will’s life from an early age. Growing up around Gold Valley, he had opportunities to learn, practise and develop his skills on the water.
His father helped give him that opportunity, but the instinct and determination that separate a good angler from a great one cannot simply be handed down.
Will made the most of those early years, developing into an outstanding all-round match angler whose ability would eventually earn him the sport’s highest individual honour.
From England Newcomer to World Champion
Every international angler dreams of standing on the podium as an individual World Champion. Will turned that dream into reality.
His World Championship victory was the reward for years of preparation, hard work, tactical thinking and the ability to perform when the pressure was greatest.
Yet winning a world title is only one part of Will’s story. His continued success, knowledge and contribution to match fishing have made him one of the most respected figures in the sport.
Thirty Years of Friendship
One of the great pleasures of a lifetime in fishing is meeting talented young anglers and watching their careers unfold.
Here are two photographs that mean a great deal to me. The first shows Will and me when he was a young England international. The second was taken nearly thirty years later.
Two photographs. Nearly thirty years apart. One shared passion for angling.
Back then, Will was a champion in the making. Today, he is a World Champion and a familiar, respected name throughout match fishing.
The years may have passed, but the friendships and memories made along the way are among the things I treasure most about our sport.
Why I Wrote This Song
When I began writing musical tributes to the anglers who have made an impression on my life, Will Raison was someone I wanted to include.
I remembered that young angler entering the England squad in 1996, full of promise, at a time when my own international career was nearing its end.
Over the years I watched that promise become achievement, and achievement become a remarkable career.
I called the song A Champion in the Making because that is exactly how I remember Will in those early days.
It is my tribute not just to the World Champion he became, but to the young angler whose potential was evident long before the medals and trophies arrived.
— Clive Branson
Listen to the Song
Will Raison — A Champion in the Making
An original musical tribute from Legends in My Lifetime.
A Champion in Every Sense
From a promising young member of the England squad to the very pinnacle of international match fishing, Will Raison’s story is one of talent, dedication and achievement.
For me, the real pleasure has been watching that journey unfold and being able to look back on those early days with such fond memories.
Some champions make history. Others also become part of our own story.
CONTINUE THE JOURNEY
Discover the Complete Legends Collection
Will’s tribute is part of a much larger celebration of the anglers, champions and characters who have shaped my life in fishing.
Discover the book and explore the music collection on CD, USB and digital download.
EXPLORE THE LEGENDS COLLECTION →
The Anglers • The Stories • The Memories • The Music