Ian Upston wanted to win every time he picked up a cricket bat, a tennis raquet or a rugby ball.
Yes, he was a winner, and he picked up two NPC first division titles and four second placings in his eight seasons as Wellington coach.
But he was dropped at the end of 1985 - after another second placing - in a decision which still rankles with Petone Club veterans.
There isn't a member of the Petone Club who knew "Uppy" who didn't regard him as something of a God. So they still believe he was hard done-by when the Wellington Union showed him the door at the end of 1985 and introduced Earle Kirton.
Happily for the union and Kirton, the decision could not be disputed, because the "dentist", who had Wellington's 174-match recordholder Graham Williams as his deputy, won 18 NPC matches straight, the title in 1986 and a second to the fabulous Auckland side of 1987.
Uppy took the reins in 1977 from Ray Dellabarca, and had a spotty first season, finishing midfield. But Wellington won the title in 1978, finished second in 1979 and 1980, and then won again in 1981 - the year of the ill-fated Springbok tour of New Zealand.
Later seasons saw a poor sixth (1982), second in 1983, third equal in 1984 and then that second in 1985. Altogether 90 NPC matches, for 63 wins, 23 losses and four draws. So he achieved a little better than a two-thirds winning rate.
Upston, dead for some years now, certainly was never a happy man when the side didn't win, but he had qualities which saw his players mostly prepared to walk over broken glass for him.
All Black fullback in the early 19080s, Allan Hewson, had a very early encounter with Uppy which showed him the way the sun shone. Hewson was a 17-year-old, dancing with wife-to-be Pauline and his Petone club-mates one Saturday night.
Hewson had been told he would he would be playing for Petone against Taradale in the national club championship on the Sunday. It was 11pm, Hewey was drinking orange juice.
"Go home," Upston said.
"One more dance," said Hewey.
"Go home or you won't be playing tomorrow," Upston said.
Hewey didn't go home. His girlfriend wanted that one more dance. Nearly next morning the Hewson household received an early call saying Allan would not be required that day.
Hewson said that laid out the Upston rules fair and square.
"That came as a bit of a shock. I thought I was a bit of a gun. But he never held a grudge. From that stage he gave me every opportunity to reach All Black status. In fact, he gave people opportunities until they ran out of chances."
Hewson says Upston was a serious man "to the point that he would want to win every game he played. But he also knew how to have a beer and relax at the same time."
Petone stalwart Andy Leslie: "Uppy had one great strength that all good coaches have. They never accepted defeat, but they could handle it. He knew that if a team won, it didn't need him. But if the team had lost he was always first into the dressing room, because those players were hurting worse than the coach."
Upston was famous for not being able to watch the end of matches. He used to go walking along the streets outside Athletic Park, occasionally frequenting a fish-and-chips shop across the road.
"But when the final whistle went , all those coaches were standing inside the door, to make sure everything was all right," Leslie said.
There was even a knowledge of when to leave the team alone. Wellington had its share of individuals, and clowns, in those days. Witness a famous 1981 game against defending NPC champion Manawatu in Wellington the day after the All Blacks won the third test against the Springboks in Auckland. It was the pivotal match in the NPC, and 27,000 had gathered with anticipation.
Wellington and Manawatu All Blacks - there were a few of them - celebrated long into the night and morning after they beat the Boks. They flew and drove their various ways to Wellington, the home team's group went to Stu Wilson's place for coffee and whatever else was available, and were a bit late to arrive at the park.
Hewson: "We were all laughing when we walked into the dressingroom - and Uppy had started his team talk. Stu (Wilson) put down his bag - and out rolled a bottle of beer. Everyone started pissing themselves - and Uppy just walked out.
"Stu started talking in his place - everyone was so relaxed when we went out there that we actually played some good rugby and killed them."
Upston's strength was as a selector who chose a team to play a certain style of game. He was not overly technical, but he knew when to give his players their head, when to say something and when not to say something.
Many believed he would have made a superb All Black coach in a time of mediocrity from incumbents Peter Burke and Bryce Rope.
In the end he will be remembered as one of Wellington's best.