MIGHTY MIGHTY MIGHTY
Principal Sponsor
Arnold Clark
Whitecraigs Rugby Club
A MESSAGE from the President...
Welcome to the home of Whitecraigs Rugby Club, where you will find yourself in great company for the rugby season, which promises all the usual excitement of League, Cup and friendly matches.
Last season, our 1st XV enjoyed a very successful campaign, finishing a close 3rd in National Division 4 and we look forward to watching more of the exciting running rugby we witnessed last year in a very competitive league.
This season our Head Coach, Alex (‘Eck’) Edmonstone will be assisted by experienced player Craig (‘Percy’) Percival and Chris Reid, with Stuart (‘Polly’) Pollock continuing to develop a new crop of under 18s. Seniors will be supported, by 1st team manager Paul Morrison, 2nds team coach/fixtures secretary Colin Bell, and the Rhinos led by Dave Turner. Our ladies, girls, and age groups continue to progress, and I wish them all well for the new season.
The Club Development Officer, Greg Kerr, has had a very good first year as he looks to grow age groups via the schools in addition to helping develop our teams and coaches by instigating and leading various SRU courses from coaching programmes to aspiring referee courses. We look forward to seeing growth in all age groups with many of our boys and girls being put forward and being successful in SRU player development hubs.
Whitecraigs is a huge community enterprise from the 1st XV to the Micros, providing exciting sporting opportunities for hundreds of young people and generating lifelong friendships. This is only possible through the dedicated efforts and involvement of so many volunteers –Coaches, Officials, Parents, and those, often unseen, with the interests of the Club at heart. Thank you to all volunteers. However, your Club still needs even more assistance to keep running smoothly, so please do speak to me to offer that help. We need support with general administration, membership & subscriptions, sponsorship & advertising, and match day assistance –there is plenty to do!
The continued support of our many Sponsors and Advertisers is of paramount importance to the Club, without whose continued financial and non-financial support we could not survive. Please reciprocate by supporting their businesses where you can and tell them you are from Whitecraigs, so they know they are reaping benefits from their sponsorship.
I hope you enjoy your time with us and look forward to seeing you again soon.
Yours in Rugby
Alasdair Beaton President
President
Alasdair Beaton
Vice President
07977 424936 president@whitecraigs.org
Neil Dunning 07787 515424 vicepresident@whitecraigs.org
Vice President
Martin Savage 07941 600462 cpo@whitecraigs.org
Secretary
To Be Advised secretary@whitecraigs.org
Treasurer
Struan Beaton 07582 147238 treasurer@whitecraigs.org
Head Coach
Alex Edmonstone 07896 689215 headcoach@whitecraigs.org
Club Captain
Lewis Ramage 07783 066904 lewis_ramage@hotmail.co.uk
1st XV Team Manager
Paul Morrison 07368 368881 teammanager@whitecraigs.org
2nd XV Coach / Fixtures
Colin Bell 07415 899338 crsbell101@gmail.com
Rhino’s Captain
Dave Turner 07811 061356 davey.turner001@gmail.com
Womens & Girls Rugby
Jon Jewitt 07989 502810 jon@jawarchitects.co.uk
Youth Rugby
James Dougall 07740 901557 youth@whitecraigs.org
Junior Rugby
Kirsty Ley 07860 633820 kirsty.ley2014@gmail.com
Club Development Officer
Greg Kerr 07792 567672 cdowrc@gmail.com
Squash Convener
Malcolm Cameron 07921 651046 jmalcolmcameron@hotmail.com
Child Protection Officer
Martin Savage 07941 600462 cpo@whitecraigs.org
Membership
Kenny Agnew 07718 922636 membership@whitecraigs.org
Sponsorship & Advertising
John Hamilton 07753 386641 sponsorship@whitecraigs.org
Social Secretary
Roger Wilkinson 07453 327037 social@whitecraigs.org
Functions
Sheonagh Beaton 07971 844546 admin@whitecraigs.org
House & Grounds
Paul Parry 07753 621917 facilities@whitecraigs.org
West Lodge, Aurs Road, Newton Mearns, Glasgow G77 6PX 0141 616 3337 www.whitecraigs.org
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FIXTURES 2024-25 Whitecraigs Rugby Club
7-Sep North Berwick - H
14-Sep Greenock Wanderers -A Dalziel - A
21-Sep Dunfermline - A Greenock Wanderers - H
28-Sep Hamilton Bulls - H GU Hills - A
5-Oct Ardrossan - A Lomond Helensburgh - A
12-Oct Strathmore - H
19-Oct Moray - A Cartha Queens Park - H
26-Oct Stewartry - H Cambuslang - A 2-Nov
9-Nov Linlithgow - A Strathendrick - H 10-Nov
23-Nov North Berwick - A Dalziel - H
V Fiji 17:40
V Portugal 15:10
24-Nov Scotland V Australia 13:40
30-Nov Greenock Wanderers - H Greenock Wanderers - A
7-Dec Dunfermline - H GU Hills - H
14-Dec Lomond Helensburgh - H
11-Jan Hamilton Bulls - A Cartha Queens Park - A
18-Jan Ardrossan - H Cambuslang - H
25-Jan Strathmore - A Strathendrick - A 1-Feb Scotland V Italy 14:15
8-Feb Moray - H 9-Feb Scotland V Ireland 15:00
15-Feb Stewartry - A 22-Feb England V Scotland 16:45
1-Mar Linlithgow - H
8-Mar Scotland V Wales 16:45
15-Mar France V Scotland 20:00 22-Mar
29-Mar 2-Apr 9-Apr
Whitecraigs Rugby Club
CLUBHOUSE & BAR OPENING HOURS
Clubhouse
The Clubhouse is open daily and the facilities, including the gym and squash courts, will be open for all members from 6.15am to 10.45pm. Other than the squash courts and the gym, the rest of the building will be open until Bar closing time or until a Club Official locks the building on any other day.
Bar
Monday & Tuesday - Closed
Wednesday & Thursday - 5.30pm to 11.00pm
Friday - 4.30pm to 1.00am
Saturday - 12 noon to 1.00am
Sunday - 12 noon to 11.00pm
The above opening hours are subject to change. All changes will be posted on the Club website and social media platforms.
HALL, LOUNGE & BOARDROOM FACILITIES
Having a family celebration, retiral party, fundraiser, 21st birthday party, christening or even a wedding – why not consider the Club as your venue?
The Hall can hold up to 100 people comfortably and the Hall/Lounge combination up to 150. As a Club member, the function areas can be hired at half the normal rate plus the cost of any required stewards.
The Club can provide hot and cold buffets from MacPhees of Barrhead, our preferred caterer. Organisers can arrange to bring their own band/DJ and we can assist with the set up of our facilities to help make sure your event goes smoothly. You can dress the Hall to suit your occasion, and from previous experience it can look magnificent.
Unfortunately, we are unable to have children’s parties during the rugby season as the facilities are generally in use during the day on a Saturday and Sunday.
The Boardroom (12 persons) and the Lounge (50 persons) are available for meetings, seminars, etc. You will have privacy and a relaxed atmosphere with teas and coffee provided if required.
For further details on how to book our facilities please see our website at www.whitecraigs.org
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Whitecraigs Rugby Club
SPORTS FACILITIES
East Renfrewshire Council designated Newton Mearns Community Sport Hub.
Rugby: 1stXV Arnold Clark National League Division 4
2ndXV Arnold Clark West Region Reserve League Division 2
Rhinos (3rdXV)
Panthers - Women & Girls
Under 18’s
Midi Section S1 - Under 16
Mini Section P4 - P7
Micro Section P1 - P3
Squash: Men’s - West League Divisions 1, 3 & 5
Junior Section
Fitness Gym Sports Therapy Archery Sports TV
Sports Hall Line Dancing Cycling Martial Arts
Football Youth Dance
All facilities are subject to change. All changes will be posted on the Club website and on social media.
100 Club
Why not join the 100 Club and have the chance to win cash prizes!
Draw takes place every month with a top prize of £250, second prize £100 and 2 third prizes of £50.
Cost is only £10 per month by standing order.
Of the money raised 50% is returned in prize money and the other 50% goes towards club improvement projects. The more participants, the more improvements we can make. For more details contact: Geoff Inshaw. email geoff.inshaw@outlook.com Tel 07766 257 732
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Whitecraigs Rugby Club
THE HISTORY
Whitecraigs Rugby Club was founded in 1928 in response to the need for an open rugby club on the south-side of Glasgow, and the team played its first game on 15th September 1928 at Deaconsbank.
The ground was at that time tenanted by Whitecraigs Hockey Club, and the new rugby club sub-tenanted the less attractive part of the ground farther from the road. A stream ran down the middle of the ground, and as the washing facilities were both primitive and overused the stream was frequently used for washing after games.
As the rugby club grew bigger more space was needed, and the Club built a new clubhouse with a large communal bath, making it no longer necessary to rely on the stream.
The rugby club then took over the tenancy of the whole ground. At that time, prior to World War 2, the club was playing in an unofficial league with Kilmarnock, Ayr, Uddingston, Bearsden, Lenzie, Cartha, Ardrossan, Old Speirians (now Garnock), Royal Technical College (now Strathclyde University), and Harland & Wolff, Whitehill, Blairhill and Craigielea (all now defunct).
Soon after the outbreak of World War 2 the ground was taken over by the War Office, and the club disbanded. Deaconsbank became an Army camp, then a prison camp, and after the war the huts were taken over by squatters who stayed for many years.
Eventually, thanks to the tenacity of the pre-war members, the ground was bought by the Club with vacant possession. Its condition was, however, absolutely dreadful. The foundations were cleared, the stream was piped, two pitches were re-laid, a new clubhouse was built, and the club was finally re-founded in 1960. The Club after 21 years of war and post-war difficulties, resumed play on 8th October 1960 enjoying facilities which were at least the equal of any other club in Glasgow.
Progress after the re-founding was steady. A bar was added and the Clubhouse was extended, both for social and changing purposes. Squash courts were built, training lights installed and an all-weather training area was added. Mini rugby, and later midi and junior rugby were introduced successfully. Most significantly an area of adjoining ground, extending to an acre or so, was bought as an investment, and later sold to a nursing home at a very healthy profit.
With funds thus earned, the Club, through the associated Limited Company, began to consider the future. The pitches were unsatisfactory for much of the season and the clubhouse was quite inadequate for the numbers that now used it. Planning permission was obtained for a residential development at Deaconsbank and the property was marketed, fetching a very handsome price. With this the land at West Lodge was purchased, three level, and dry, pitches were formed, and a magnificent new clubhouse was built and opened in 1997.
Whereas the Club had previously had about 9 acres, it now has around 25 acres. It is a sobering thought that the original development at Deaconsbank cost roughly 1% of the new development at West Lodge!
Thus, the rugby club entered a new era, full of optimism and ambition. The standard of rugby improved over the years, with the youth sections going from strength to strength, and the senior teams rising through the various leagues to the 1stXV’s current position in Arnold Clark National League Division 4.
The Club shall remain non-professional in the foreseeable future, and will continue to strive to improve playing standards, and to play its part in developing the game of rugby in Scotland. The Club shall also maintain the welcoming reputation that it has always enjoyed.
Nor shall it be only a rugby club. It also has a very successful men’s, ladies and junior squash section, as well a gym, a fishing section, archery, football training, martial arts, youth dance, Zumba, Line Dancing and various fitness classes. In providing a multi-sport environment the Club fulfils a very important role as the Newton Mearns Community Sports Hub.
The Club looks forward to the future and, while doing so, also looks back and remembers the tremendous debt owed by it to those young men who returned from the war and rebuilt the club, thus laying the foundations for that which all members and guests enjoy today.
McCormicks
McCormicks
We offer a fast and friendly service, priding ourselves in providing excellent customer service at competitive rates. We take every care to ensure that your experience with us is second to none as, unlike many of our larger competitors, we rely upon you returning to us again in the future.
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Whitecraigs Rugby Club
SPONSORSHIP & ADVERTISING
SPONSORSHIP & ADVERTISING
Revenue from sponsorship & advertising is a crucial part of the Club’s finances each year. The maintenance & upkeep of the clubhouse facilities and the playing pitches is very expensive and requires funding. So too does the provision of qualified coaching, professional physiotherapy and fitness training.
To this end the Club offers flexible sponsorship & advertising packages with your company’s name/logo on:
• Rugby Shirts & Shorts • Pitchside & Beer Garden Advertising Boards
• Website/Newsletters/Match Programme Advertising and much more, including Hospitality Packages.
For further information or a copy of the Club’s
Sponsorship & Advertising Booklet contact: John Hamilton.
Mobile: 07753 386641 Email: john29hamilton@hotmail.com
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SPONSORS
Please support our sponsors as they support us. A very big thank you to:
Principal Sponsors: Old Pulteney & Caorunn
A Crawford & Sons
A G Barr (IRN-BRU)
Arnold Clark
Barrhead Travel
Beckhoff
BT Sport
CALA Homes
Campbell Dallas
Cathkin Clean
Charles Frazer Butchers
Chequered Flag
Eastwood Mearns Taxis
Eric Smith Jewellers
Exacta Concrete
Forever Living with Karen Healy
GAP Group
Glasgow South Dental Care
Glendinning Pharmacy
Goals
Harry Fairbairn
Homepride Decor
Hunter Chalets & Apartments
Jewitt & Wilkie Architects
Living for Style
Mactaggart & Mickel
McCarthy & Stone
McCormicks
McLennan Adam Davis
Mearns Castle Golf Academy
MenZone
MND Scotland
Nicol Estate Agents
Piccolino e Vino
Quilter Cheviot
Rettie & Co.
Robertson Homes
Taggarts
Taylors of Giffnock
13 Thirteen Design
Thomsons Coffee
Vets4Pets
Whitecross Building Consultancy
Whyte & Willis
Windowplus