Forrester RFC
 |
This article relies on references to primary sources or sources affiliated with the subject, rather than references from independent authors and third-party publications. Please add citations from reliable sources. (February 2008) |
 |
This article's tone or style may not reflect the formal tone used on Wikipedia. Specific concerns may be found on the talk page. See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions. (October 2009) |
 |
|
| Full name | Forrester Rugby Football Club |
|---|---|
| Union | Scottish Rugby Union |
| Founded | 1964 |
| Location | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Ground(s) | Broomhouse |
| League(s) | East Regional League Division 1 |
| 2008–09 | 9th in Div 2 |
| Official website | |
| www.forrester-rfc.co.uk/default.aspx | |
Forrester RFC is a rugby union football club in the Scottish Rugby Union, located at Broomhouse Road in Edinburgh and play in the East Regional League Division 1.
Contents |
[edit] History
Forrester Former Pupils Rugby Football Club and Sports Association was founded in 1964, by a number of ex-pupils of Forrester High School and members of the local community.
There followed 10 years of team and spirit building, normally in the confines of the Dorlin Hotel, St. John's Road, Edinburgh. The Club participated in the [Edinburgh and District League] and found success in a number of Sevens tournaments including the now defunct Edinburgh and District trophy, in 1976.
The Clubhouse, situated in the grounds of Forrester High School, was opened in September 1977. In 1987 the existing structure was extended to include changing rooms and showers in addition to other facilities, not least of which was the addition of a small bar.
Having been pipped at the post for three successive years, the Club finally won the [Edinburgh District League] in 1986 gaining promotion to Division 6 of the National League in 1990. After reorganisation they found themselves in the Division 5 (East) Regional League at the start of season 1999/2000. They finished runners up to Irvine that year but, finally, won promotion to Division 4 by beating Hawick YM 13 - 12 in the final game of season 2000/2001.
The Committee were instrumental in setting up the River Series Cup (later the Alloa Series Trophy) in association with Boroughmuir RFC, which for ten years provided Cup competition in Scotland, and provided the springboard for the SRU Tennents cup competition and ultimately the BT Cellnet Cup. It was perhaps fitting that in the last year of this competition, the Castlemaine XXXX cup was won by Forrester in the gala event.
The Club now stands at a cross-roads, with a massive Youth development programme and ambitious plans for the development of facilities to nurture the talent and enhance the playing standards throughout the area. Although never a "closed" Club, "Former pupils" was dropped from the Club title at the end of season 2000/2001.
[edit] Yearbook 09/10
Forrester Rugby Club are currently playing in National League Division 3.
We recently moved to a new clubhouse at South Gyle Access (opposite Makro) which is approx 300 yards from the original one. The move was due to the redevelopment of Forrester and St Augustines High Schools.
At present, we run three senior teams and are hopeful of having a fourth team (not many clubs can boast this in the modern day of rugby!). We also have age grade teams from Primary 1 through to our Under 18 Colts.
In September 2008, we entered a team of over 35’s in the Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival at Murrayfield. (Our oldest participant was Dunkan Armstrong, a mere slip of a lad at 50 something!). Preparations are in place for the Forrester Golden Oldies to visit Sydney in 2010 for the next world tournament. Guest players are welcome.
Once again our coaches for the season are Dougie Dingwall (forwards coach) formerly of Currie RFC and Andy Knight (backs coach) formerly of Boroughmuir RFC.
Early in this millennium the club went on a roll of promotion or just missing out, and for two years we played in National 2 nearly making the step up to National 1. However, last season saw the team relegated. Hopefully, this was a temporary glitch and by the end of this season we will be heading upwards and onwards again. Our 2nd XV have won their respective league four times in the last five seasons and now play in the 2nd top league for national teams. Their opponents are mainly drawn from clubs in Premier 1-3 and include Currie, Hawick, Cartha QP, Biggar, Kirkcaldy etc.
At youth level we recently appointed Neil Hunter (ex Gloucester, Sale, Fylde, Scotland U21 etc.) as our new Community Development Officer. He is ably assisted by our Director of Rugby Bill Smith, (who himself has a vast knowledge of youth rugby) and Gavin Sisson. Their role is to visit primary and secondary schools in the west of Edinburgh (Sighthill, Wester Hailes and northwards over to Queensferry Road and out to South Queensferry) taking rugby in core school hours and also early morning, lunchtime and after school clubs. This initiative is funded by 'Forrester React 2 Rugby', which is a charitable trust managed by our own Trustees all of whom are Club members.
From our youth ranks we currently have a number of players involved in the Pathways squads. Many of those players have also been invited to the SRU national training camp at Struan.
Every year for the past 30 years, Forrester Rugby Club have sent a team to Northern Ireland to compete in the Carrickfergus 7’s Tournament which is now the top tournament of its kind in the Ulster Region. During our weekend trip we also play a Carrickfergus Select XV for the Jimmy Robertson Memorial Trophy in memory of a former Forrester club member. This year over 40 club members attended. We have also visited Dendermonde, Belgium in 2007/8 to compete in their international 10 a side tournament.
[edit] Club Presidents
1965-1974 F. Langstaff
1974-1976 A. Elliott
1976-1978 A. Jenkins
1978-1980 J. Nicol
1980-1982 K. Elliott
1982-1986 J. Connor
1986-1991 J. Robertson
1991-2002 T. Stevendale
2002-2006 S. Kilpatrick
2006-2010 C. Lewis
2010-....... D. Panther
[edit] Club Captains
1965-1966 A. Elliott
1966-1969 K. Elliott
1969-1970 K. Hepburn
1970-1972 S. Fowler
1972-1975 K. Elliott
1975-1976 A. MacEwan
1976-1977 B. Cockburn
1977-1978 A. Hogg
1978-1979 K. Elliott
1979-1980 D. Imrie
1980-1981 A. Bald
1981-1982 C. Macrae
1982-1984 T. Stevendale
1984-1985 G. Marshall
1985-1986 K. Hamilton
1986-1987 G. Marshall
1987-1989 K. Hamilton
1989-1990 S. Elliott
1990-1992 W. Whitelaw
1992-1993 A. Cleland
1993-1994 C. Lewis
1994-1995 G. McLoughlin
1995-1996 B. Duffie
1996-1997 J. Bertram
1997-1998 G. McLoughlin
1998-1999 W. Whitelaw
1999-2000 C. Lewis
2000-2001 I. Beveridge
2001-2003 A. Hamilton
2003-2006 C. Bradford
2006-2008 S. Roseburgh
2008-2009 C. Panther
2009-2010 N. Gunderson
2010-2011 S. Fulton
2011-....... P. Bree
[edit] External links
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
