Glasgow High Kelvinside
 | |
| Full name | Glasgow High / Kelvinside Rugby Football Club |
|---|---|
| Union | Scottish Rugby Union |
| Nickname(s) | GHK |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Location | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Ground(s) | Old Anniesland |
| League(s) | Scottish National League Division One |
| 2021–22 | Scottish National League Division Two, 1st of 12 |
| Official website | |
| ghkrfc | |
Glasgow High Kelvinside , often abbreviated to GHK, is an amateur rugby union club in Glasgow, Scotland. They currently play in Scottish National League Division Two.
History
Glasgow High Kelvinside was formed in 1982 by the merger of Kelvinside Academy and High School of Glasgow rugby clubs; Kelvinside Academicals and Glasgow HSFP.[1] Both Glasgow High FP and Kelvinside Accies were struggling clubs at the time: Glasgow High in the Third Division; Kelvinside Academicals in the Fifth Division.[2]
Impact of professionalism
When professionalism was finally allowed by the International Rugby Football Board in 1995, Scotland took a while to adapt. The SRU decided to make Scotland's four district teams professional in 1996. Glasgow's district team became the professional rugby union team now known as Glasgow Warriors.
However it was recognised that the amateur Glasgow clubs might provide a better pathway to professionalism for their players if some of the amateur Glasgow area clubs merged.[3] [4] The clubs considered for merger were Glasgow High Kelvinside, Glasgow Academicals and West of Scotland. Taking an initial letter each from High, Academicals, West and Kelvinside it was proposed the new side would be called the Glasgow Hawks.[5]
The Milngavie-based club West of Scotland pulled out of the planned merger. Nevertheless, Glasgow Academicals and Glasgow High Kelvinside did merge in 1997. The name Hawks was kept for the merged team.[5]
Glasgow Hawks
The merger of the two sides was not without its detractors and a few on each side of the GHK - Academical fence were concerned about losing their history in the new side. Glasgow Academicals continued as a league side the following year in 1998 but they had to start again at the bottom rung of the league structure.
Glasgow High Kelvinside reborn
Following the Academicals example of starting again, Glasgow High Kelvinside also started again in the bottom rung of the league structure.[6] However they remain associated with the Glasgow Hawks.[7]
In June 2014, former Glasgow Warriors and GHK player Cameron Little was announced as the head coach at the club for the 2015–16 season.[8] The club won promotion to Scottish National League Division Three after winning all 18 league matches in the 2014–15 season.[9] It followed that up by winning the Scottish National League Division Three title in the 2015–16 season and gaining promotion to the Scottish National League Division Two in the 2016–17 season.
Honours
- Scottish National League Division Three: 2015–16
- Langholm Sevens: 1995[10]
- Clarkston Sevens: 1984[11]
- Greenock Sevens: 1984, 1987[12]
- Ayr Sevens: 1994[13]
- Allan Glen's Sevens: 1984[14]
- Hillhead Jordanhill Sevens: 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996[15]
- Hillhead Sevens: 1985, 1987[16]
- Bearsden Sevens: 1990[17]
- Glasgow University Sevens: 1987[18]
- Helensburgh Sevens: 1986[19]
- Lochaber Sevens: 1992[20]
Notable former players
Scotland internationalists
The following former Glasgow High Kelvinside players have represented Scotland at full international level.
Glasgow Warriors
The following former Glasgow High Kelvinside players have represented Glasgow Warriors at professional level.
References
- ^ McMurtrie, Bill (16 March 1982). "Glasgow rugby merger". Glasgow Herald. p. 26. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- ^ "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
- ^ "City RFC is the Glasgow answer". HeraldScotland.
- ^ "Working towards Glasgow United". Herald Scotland.
- ^ a b "Glasgow Hawks RFC - Club History & Archive". glasgowhawks.com.
- ^ "GHK survive slippery conditions to make most of capital collapse". The Herald. 1 May 1999. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- ^ "Bitter blow in the title race". Clydebank Post.
- ^ "Little agrees to go back to where it all began". Herald Scotland. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- ^ "GHK rugby club - GHK RUGBY REPORT AGM 2015This season... - Facebook". facebook.com.
- ^ "Langholm Sevens". 7 June 2019.
- ^ "Clarkston Sevens". 7 June 2019.
- ^ "Greenock Sevens". 7 June 2019.
- ^ "Ayr Sevens". 7 June 2019.
- ^ "Allan Glen's Sevens". 7 June 2019.
- ^ "Hillhead Jordanhill Sevens". 7 June 2019.
- ^ "Hillhead HSFP Sevens". 9 June 2019.
- ^ "Bearsden Sevens". 7 June 2019.
- ^ "Glasgow University Sevens". 7 June 2019.
- ^ "Helensburgh Sevens". 10 June 2019.
- ^ "Lochaber Sevens". 11 June 2019.