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	For The Jerseys \| Kilmacolm Saturday Scene \| Sevens Champs \| Presidents View FOR THE JERSEYS JOHN SHARP - President of Birkmyre Rugby Football Club.
	Twenty-One years is a significant marker in the life of any organisation and no less in the case of Birkmyre Rugby Club. They were men of vision and commitment who, in 1976, sat down and drew up plans to set up a club essentially for local young men to engage in the sporting and social aspects ofGlasgow and District rugby. It is a tribute to the success of the venture, that even today there are founder members of this club who still play and others who maintain their contacts with the club in the convivial sense. Birkmyre has never truly aspired to First Division status in the National League set up, but it has provided a Scotland under 19 international, organised excellent playing tours, particularly to Ireland and Mainland Europe. It has made a significant contribution to the social life of the local towns of Kilmalcom, Bridge of Weir, Brookfield, Houston and Kilbarchan. The club has aspirations, as every amateur team must, but we have never lost sight of the fact that we are now - given the decline of school rugby - in the front line of encouraging new blood into the game. If anything should be altered in the coming years, it should be that club's like Birkmyre are nurtured by the great and good, because we are the lifeblood of the game.The club recognises that for these 21 years, its interests and well being hace been in the care and supervision of committee members who have freely volunteered their time and energies and it is to these people that this foreword to our club history booklet is dedicated.
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	Rain, packs and dugs are part of the Kilmacolm Saturday scene Jack Mclean - Extracts from the Glasgow herald, October 29th 1990 (Courtesy of Caledonian Publishing)
	The Famous axiom enjoyed by sports fans that journalists who write about their hobbies know hee-haw, is for once justified. Until recently, I knew not that rugby was played with a mis-shapen ball, for heaven's sake. But it is, indeed and on a Saturday, it was played very well too. A surprise that was. Because the game which Stuart the photographer, and myself saw, was enacted by the two teams at the very bottom of the seventh division. Garioch, from far-off Inverurie, and Birkmyre, from the very wilds of Kilmacolm. What a splendid area Kilmacolm is. How douce and decent and bourgeois. There are houses there which Noel Coward would prefer to the south of France, they are that lovely. But, it was by no means the south of France on #Saturday. It was practically the Murmansk run. The rain was chucking it down and the cold would have done for Nanook of the North. Not to worry, there was a surprisingly large contingent of local fans and lots of wee weans running around. There were also lots of wee dugs, including a spitting image of Asta from the Thin Man films. The wee dugs have about as much chance of understanding the ever-changing rules of rugby as I have, incidentally. But, rules apart, it really was a good game. From the beginning, Birkmyre - with only 48 members and no clubhouse - took control. Garioch had a rather heavier pack, but it gave them no advantage and the young lads in the Kilmacolm side showed considerable spirit. Certainly, they had a number of takes against the head in the scrums and they had a postive Gavin Hastings in kicker Fraser McGhee. What a fine game this rangy young fellow had. He scored seven penalty goals and never put - forgive this one about penalty kicks - a foot wrong. Garioch could only reply with one penalty goal, making the scoreline a satisfying 21-3 for Birkmyre. For a dark, wet day like Saturday, with a greasy ball, the handling was surprisingly sure, though young Murray Sharp (son of Birkmyre luminary, John Sharp), who had replaced the injured Paul Howison, of the Kilmacolm side, mishandled when he was nearly through for a try. But then, he had made the position himself and could be hardly faulted for his error. Birkmyre have a grand hooker in wee Jocky Ross, who has much the same proportions as myself. I am damned if I know how he can run about at all. Birkmyre captain, Bobby Carruth, would grace the London Scottish, And, as I said, Fraser McGhee kicked well enough for a Scotland B trial. But, there is more to rugby than winning, thank God. At the end of the game, the usual courtesy of clapping off the opposing team was a sight to bring gladness to your sporting heart. It has to be understood that these boys play for the love of the game. They also - in marked contrast to the spoiled brats of other sports - pay for their love of it. To my astonishment, these lads had paid two quid apiece for the privilege of getting horribly injured in this gruelling game played out against a level of copious rain which I last saw overdone in that Cruel sea film. They also pay to the club to keep it going. When I spoke to club secretary, Ronald Coates, afterwards, he cited two basic factors for the difficulties which a small club like Birkmyre experiences. Not having a clubhouse makes the needed focus difficult for a start. And, the teachers' strike has done them no favours, though Scotland's marvelous Grand Slam victory in 1990 has attracted a few more boys to the glories of this, rather absurd, but decent game. I am practically on pain of death from my Sports Editor not to mention alchol in another of his columns at all, but it is not possible with rugby to leave it out. Afterwards, into the Fox and Hounds in Houston, and over a pint and as good a pie and beans that you could wish for, I found myself in the company of all the players of both clubs - including the ones with stitch marks, and the officials, and the referee and the line judges. Better boys you could not encounter if you were to advertise. And this game was a wee advertisement for the sporting life itself.
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	Sevens Champs Extracts from the Gazette Group's newspapers, May 4 1995
	Birkmyre rugby club recently returned victorious from the annual Clydeside seven-a-side tournament. This tournament is open to teams from Glasgow and District sections and a victory for second division Birkmyre against several first division teams was a feather in the local team's cap. Capably led by genial Irishman, John Armstrong, victories were recorded against Clydeside Presidents, Glasgow University and Clydesdale, which took the team into the semi-final against first division champions, Hamilton. A close game, especially in the first half, saw Birkmyre eventually take the upper hand with a final score of 17-5. Main points scorers were Jamie Moglia and Ed Gordon-Stewart, capably supported by Chris Brown and Tony Ham, in the backs. The hard-working forwards were chosen from John armstrong, Ivar Campbell, Steven Rankin, Wallace Muir and veteran utility man, Peter Haveron. The victory has capped a positive season for Birkmyre, which finished fourth in its league.
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	PRESIDENTS VIEW STEVEN DICKIE- President of Birkmyre Rugby Football Club.
	Birkmyre Rugby Club continues to build successfully at both senior, and now junior, levels. Having passed the landmark of 30 seasons since our formation in 1976, we now have a senior team in the Second Division of the West Regional League and a thriving junior section who are very competitive with their age group opponents at the best clubs in the west of Scotland. The new changing rooms and gymnasium facilities are due to be completed at the end of the summer and this will mark a step change for our club. We have sustained the driving ambition of our founding members, two of who continue to serve the club, and all the committee members over the years to develop a sports and social club to provide a special type of comradeship and sporting ‘crack’. The Birkmyre ‘Bears’ will always be a players club……it’s just that some of the players now are too old to play at the level they thought they played at 20 years ago! Our ambition is to continue to make a significant contribution to the social life of Kilmacolm, Bridge of Weir, Brookfield, Houston and Kilbarchan, and we are actively seeking to recruit players old and young and involve families from Inverclyde and Renfrewshire. We are lucky to have players who’ve joined ups from Glasgow and further afield and we welcome all comers to Kilmacolm. We have a number of members supporting the development of youth rugby at the club, with over 100 junior members at present. We also support coaching development at local schools and hope to continue this in future. The current players and committee look forward to a steady stream of skilled ‘new boys’ into the first team over the next few years as a result of this often unrecognised coaching effort from parents and players alike. We’ve already had Birkmyre providing players at Scotland under 19 level, district level, and Scottish first division level……who will be the next graduate from the Bears Hall of Fame from the current crop of minis?? The Co-optimists graced Birkmyre Park for our 21st Season. We’ve ambitions to attract other great clubs back to Birkmyre in the years ahead and develop our club to the next level in Scottish Rugby. Come and join us when you can! Birkmyre tours are becoming legendary around Ireland and beyond, so social membership is still a great idea for those who’ve realised that weekly play is now beyond them (yet it’s amazing how persuasive our touring committee can be in ensuring that all tourists turn out for at least a short while during the rest period from celebratory activity). Congratulations to the players old and new for their efforts last year. Here’s to more success on the field and great social comradeship next year.
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