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History 2 of 2
2. History 2
GRFC History - The Later Years
(Written by Ian Ormiston)
The Club was formed in 1929 by a group of young men, most of whom had found work in the busy industrial town of Grangemouth after completing their education in the cities. The club was part of the Glasgow District Rugby Union.
Matches were played in the town’s main public park where, with the co-operation of the (then) Grangemouth Town Council, the Club was able to find funds to erect a timber-constructed clubhouse. The club was active throughout the thirties but with the outbreak of the Second World War, playing strength quickly diminished and it was necessary to disband in 1940.
It was the late winter of 1953 before a meeting was convened to discuss the re-formation of the club, and once again it was people who had learned their rugby elsewhere who played a leading part in the revival. The club was officially re-formed on 21st January 1954 as a member of Edinburgh District RU. The local Council gave support by providing the original public park pitch with changing and washing facilities in the adjacent open-air swimming pool. Not for the feint hearted, especially in mid winter! The club led a nomadic existence during the next twenty or so years. During one period their matches were played on what had been the Grangemouth Airport site which was taken over by the RAF during the Second World War. The old RAF guardroom served as changing accommodation and this was shared with an amateur football club. The Calor Gas and GE Plastic’s plants now occupy the area where the club’s two pitches lay.
Rugby was given a major boost in the town in the late fifties when the game was introduced for the first time at Grangemouth High School. Other local schools in the Falkirk district followed suit and a good relationship quickly developed between the club and the schools through club members refereeing school matches and generally giving support to PE masters whenever possible. The club was soon to reap the benefit as an ever-increasing number of youngsters challenged for places in the Grangemouth sides.
The club had long cherished the idea of having a home of its own and a huge fund raising effort was embarked upon during the late sixties that was to provide sufficient capital to allow the Committee to approach the local Council with proposals for the club’s further development. The Council responded positively and in 1970 the club contracted to lease 11.02 acres of ground at Glensburgh from the Burgh of Grangemouth for a period of fifty years. Building work on the clubhouse soon followed and although the new facilities had been in use for some months, Mr Alex H Brown, the (then) President of the Scottish Rugby Union, officially opened the clubhouse in April 1972. An inaugural match was arranged with the club’s Welsh friends from Llandybie who chartered a plane for the trip, and Grangemouth got off to a good start at their new home by recording a 16 points to 9 victory.
It had been obvious to club committees through the years that the future strength of the club lay with its youth. Although children were still being coached at most local schools in the early seventies, it was felt the club should have its own youth section and Mini/Midi rugby was introduced. As a consequence of this, the club has produced many good youth sides through the years and the first real success came in season 1980/81 when the Under 18’s team won the Edinburgh District Youth League Championship for the Royal Bank Trophy. This was repeated the following season, and again in season 1985/86. The 81/82 and 85/86 sides went on to compete for the Scottish Championship at Murrayfield. Although they came second on both occasions, these were the club’s “Golden Years” in terms of playing strength and success. Fielding four, sometimes five senior sides plus an under 18’s team, the club was promoted three times in the nineteen eighties.
The club still awaits its first full Scottish cap, but no fewer than seven Grangemouth players have represented their country at Under 18 level and, curiously, one was capped for the national side of Austria.
Since the teachers’ dispute in the eighties that resulted in school staff withdrawing their voluntary support for pupils’ sports, it has been vitally important for the club to ensure its future by providing coaching and playing facilities for all age levels at Glensburgh.
When “League” rugby was introduced in season 1973/74, Grangemouth were placed in Division V East where they remained until the re-organisation of the league set-up in 1975/76 when they were assigned to National League Division V1. Progress was slow but steady and in season 2000/01 they achieved their highest status when they were promoted to Premiership II. Sadly, the club has slipped back since those heady days and now competes in Caledonian regional Midlands 2.
(Written by Ian Ormiston)
The Club was formed in 1929 by a group of young men, most of whom had found work in the busy industrial town of Grangemouth after completing their education in the cities. The club was part of the Glasgow District Rugby Union.
Matches were played in the town’s main public park where, with the co-operation of the (then) Grangemouth Town Council, the Club was able to find funds to erect a timber-constructed clubhouse. The club was active throughout the thirties but with the outbreak of the Second World War, playing strength quickly diminished and it was necessary to disband in 1940.
It was the late winter of 1953 before a meeting was convened to discuss the re-formation of the club, and once again it was people who had learned their rugby elsewhere who played a leading part in the revival. The club was officially re-formed on 21st January 1954 as a member of Edinburgh District RU. The local Council gave support by providing the original public park pitch with changing and washing facilities in the adjacent open-air swimming pool. Not for the feint hearted, especially in mid winter! The club led a nomadic existence during the next twenty or so years. During one period their matches were played on what had been the Grangemouth Airport site which was taken over by the RAF during the Second World War. The old RAF guardroom served as changing accommodation and this was shared with an amateur football club. The Calor Gas and GE Plastic’s plants now occupy the area where the club’s two pitches lay.
Rugby was given a major boost in the town in the late fifties when the game was introduced for the first time at Grangemouth High School. Other local schools in the Falkirk district followed suit and a good relationship quickly developed between the club and the schools through club members refereeing school matches and generally giving support to PE masters whenever possible. The club was soon to reap the benefit as an ever-increasing number of youngsters challenged for places in the Grangemouth sides.
The club had long cherished the idea of having a home of its own and a huge fund raising effort was embarked upon during the late sixties that was to provide sufficient capital to allow the Committee to approach the local Council with proposals for the club’s further development. The Council responded positively and in 1970 the club contracted to lease 11.02 acres of ground at Glensburgh from the Burgh of Grangemouth for a period of fifty years. Building work on the clubhouse soon followed and although the new facilities had been in use for some months, Mr Alex H Brown, the (then) President of the Scottish Rugby Union, officially opened the clubhouse in April 1972. An inaugural match was arranged with the club’s Welsh friends from Llandybie who chartered a plane for the trip, and Grangemouth got off to a good start at their new home by recording a 16 points to 9 victory.
It had been obvious to club committees through the years that the future strength of the club lay with its youth. Although children were still being coached at most local schools in the early seventies, it was felt the club should have its own youth section and Mini/Midi rugby was introduced. As a consequence of this, the club has produced many good youth sides through the years and the first real success came in season 1980/81 when the Under 18’s team won the Edinburgh District Youth League Championship for the Royal Bank Trophy. This was repeated the following season, and again in season 1985/86. The 81/82 and 85/86 sides went on to compete for the Scottish Championship at Murrayfield. Although they came second on both occasions, these were the club’s “Golden Years” in terms of playing strength and success. Fielding four, sometimes five senior sides plus an under 18’s team, the club was promoted three times in the nineteen eighties.
The club still awaits its first full Scottish cap, but no fewer than seven Grangemouth players have represented their country at Under 18 level and, curiously, one was capped for the national side of Austria.
Since the teachers’ dispute in the eighties that resulted in school staff withdrawing their voluntary support for pupils’ sports, it has been vitally important for the club to ensure its future by providing coaching and playing facilities for all age levels at Glensburgh.
When “League” rugby was introduced in season 1973/74, Grangemouth were placed in Division V East where they remained until the re-organisation of the league set-up in 1975/76 when they were assigned to National League Division V1. Progress was slow but steady and in season 2000/01 they achieved their highest status when they were promoted to Premiership II. Sadly, the club has slipped back since those heady days and now competes in Caledonian regional Midlands 2.