West of Scotland F.C.

Formed in 1865, West of Scotland played a founding role in establishing international rugby in Scotland, and have provided a number of SRU presidents and players. The club originated at Hamilton Crescent in Partick, Glasgow as an offshoot of the Cricket Club. The bye laws of West of Scotland Football Club were agreed on 15 October 1865.

Initially, West games were 20-a-side intra-club affairs. However, In November 1867, West took to the field against live opposition for the first time – beating Edinburgh Academicals, in one of the first ever rugby matches ever played. West lost the return game at Raeburn Place in December 1867. This remains one of the oldest fixtures in world rugby, and the sides have clashed regularly over the years.

West have played in red and yellow coloured strips since 1871, having elected to discard their old navy strips. The local football club Partick Thistle decided to copy in the 1930s when they also switched from dark blue strips.[1]

In 1872 the formation of the Scottish Rugby Union took place at a meeting at Glasgow Academy on Elmbank Street, and the first members were Edinburgh Academicals, West of Scotland, Royal High School FP, Glasgow Academicals, Merchistonians, Glasgow University, St Andrews University and Edinburgh University.

West twice won the Scottish Unofficial Championship in 1883 and 1885, and provided several players – including captains – to the National side. The club also won four consecutive Scottish Unofficial Championship titles in 1899, 1890, 1891, 1892 (joint), before once more taking the trophy in 1895.

However, despite this outstanding on-field success, the club experienced some off-field strife at this time; largely pertaining the West of Scotland cricket club's incessant demands for more money.

The first world war (1914–18) not only curtailed the club's playing activities – they also decimated many of the local club sides, many of whom never recovered. Nonetheless, despite further issues with the cricket club over the lease, West thrived during this era, fielding up to 4XV's, and featuring many players who play at district and international level.

In 1929 one of rugby's great personalities, W. H. Kidston died. He was responsible, with others for introducing the kicking code to Scotland, in his early days had played for West and, was Honorary Secretary for 18 years, and the first President of West of Scotland FC. Kidston went on to become the President of the SRU. These years also saw people like Bill Nicholson, W. A. Burnet, H. Stewart Mackintosh (later Director of Education for Glasgow ) and Arthur Ferns becoming involved both in playing terms and later in the transfer of West to Burnbrae. Although the club had limited success on the playing field at this time it had a large membership.

At the outset of the World War Two (1939–1945), after years of simmering tension, the cricket club cancelled West's lease in Patrick – stating that they saw no avenue for the rugby club's return post WWII. It would be 15 years before West found a new permanent home, and this period therefore represented somewhat of an odyssey for the club.

West's first attempted solution was a ground and team-share with Kelvinside Academy FP at Balgray. This was successful for a number of years, but the sheer volume of players rendered it untenable. Therefore, in 1951, West once more began looking for a new home – with club officials A.D. Ferns, M.D. Ballantyne, H.S Mackintosh, W Nicholson, J.A.D. Thom, W.A. Burnet and President Hugh Harper all playing critical roles. The committee considered grounds in Bishopbriggs, Kirkintilloch, Pollock Estate, Stepps, and Whitecraigs, none of which were deemed desirable.

In this period West played their games at a variety of grounds over this period; namely at Old and New Anniesland, Balgray, Glasgow University, and St Aloysius College. Nonetheless, the club continue to thrive – often putting out 6 XV's,

West were an 'open club', meaning that in contrast to the restricted approach of the School's FP clubs, they were open to all players, regardless of background.

This approach means that during the 1960s and 1970s some of the best players in the world graced the Burnbrae turf. West teams in this era featured many Scottish internationals, some of whom went on to star for the British and Irish Lions. Notable players from this era include Sandy Carmichael, Gordon Brown, Peter Brown, and Alastair McHarg, all of whom are considered to be amongst Scotland's best ever players; whilst Lionel Weston was capped for England. West teams were littered with international players in all positions at this time, and not withstanding the outstanding pack noted above, Burnbrae crowds were dazzled by outstanding international backs such as David Sheddon, Chris Rea, and Quentin Dunlop, as well as England's scrum-half Lionel Weston.

During this golden era the club enjoyed much on-field success, jointly-shared Championship honours with Hawick in 1965, before once more lifting the trophy in 1971.

However, this wasn't to last, and West's fortunes somewhat decline when the FP teams opened their clubhouses to non FP's. Indeed. when the official SRU leagues were established however West were in Division 1, fell back to Division 2, before collapsing eventually to Division 3.

In the 1990s, faced with the Border and Edinburgh teams' domination of Scottish rugby, the great old clubs of Glasgow met to discuss amalgamating so as to compete at a higher level. This led to the origination of Glasgow Hawks, an amalgamation of the Glasgow Academy, High School of Glasgow, and Kelvinside FP clubs (the latter two already having merged into GHK) – each of whom 'donated' letters to the Hawks acronym. The 'W' in Hawks is therefore a vestige of West's potential involvement – although the club decided to reject the move, thus maintaining its independence and history.

West of Scotland ground pictured in 2013

West's fortunes showed signs of revival when they won the Scottish Shield in 2006. This led to an old-field resurgence for the club, who enjoyed successive promotions from Premiership Division Three, and then Premiership Division Two.

Indeed, it was on Saturday 29 March 2008 that West won Premiership Division Two, thus securing their promotion to Premiership Division One as champions. The 2nd XV and 3rd XV teams also won their leagues, making 2007–08 a historic season for the club.

West of Scotland played in Premiership Division One in 2008–2009, 2009–2010, and 2010–2011. This marked a strong era for the club, with former players such as British and Irish Lion Gordon Bulloch electing to return to club, alongside brother Alan Bulloch, Rory Kerr, and former Glasgow professional Guy Perrett These 'stars' were augmented by a strong crop of West players including Robert Harley, Robert McAlpine, Murray McConell, all of whom progressed to professional rugby, as well as a selection of young Glasgow professional players, selected in the SRU draft (including Peter Horne, Jon Welsh, Richie Vernon, and Richie Gray).

West played in Premiership Division Two in season 2011–12 following relegation at the end of the 2010–11 season.

In August 2014, work started on a new Waitrose supermarket, on land purchased from the club. West of Scotland received a new state of the art artificial all-weather pitch from this deal. [2] The supermarket was opened in June 2015, with the new pitch being completed and opened soon after.

West's youth section was founded in the 1980s, and is now a thriving development centre with over 200 players – and an excellent track record of success, both on and off the field. The club's youth development programme's ethos is to 'look at the individuals and develop the person, not just the player'. Notable recent graduates of West's youth programme include: Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors and Scotland), Robert McAlpine (Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby), and Murray McConell (Glasgow Warriors and Nottingham Rugby).

West's midi sides (S1 – Under 18) play in the 'Presidents Conference', the top division in Scottish Youth Rugby. West's youth set up is therefore extremely well regarded, and West's youth team's have regularly competed for (and won) silverware, including the Scottish Cup on several occasions.

• Gordon Brown (30) Caps 1969–1976
• Gordon Bulloch 75 caps; Scottish captain and Lion.
• Bill Scott, British and Irish Lions and Barbarian F.C.[5][6]
• Sandy Carmichael (50 caps – and Lion)
• Richie Gray (58 Caps, and 1 Lions Cap) Present

• Lionel Weston

• Guy Perrett – Edinburgh Rugby
• Murray McConnell – Glasgow Warriors and Nottingham Rugby
• Robert McAlpine – Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby

Presidents of the Scottish Rugby Union

• William Hamilton Kinston 1876–77 – and first President of West of Scotland football club.
• Ian McLauchlan
• Bill Nicholson.[7]