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Moffat Rugby Football Club

Moffat has always been known as a "football town" having two football teams which in the past have been very successful. In the spring of 1994, a group of men who were keen on rugby were having a drink in the Balmoral Hotel in Moffat. The discussion centred on ideas on how to raise money for the newly formed after school care group and a mini bus for the community. One idea was a charity rugby match against Annan RFC. The drink flowed and the ideas 'evolved' with the amount of alcohol consumed! The youngsters in the town needed added interests and naturally rugby would be excellent and character building. It was agreed that an approach would be made to the SRU about forming a Club for Mini and Midi Rugby but to start this with a charity match for seniors to raise funds for local organisations. Roy Laidlaw and Shade Munro came to take sessions in the town to encourage youngsters to play the game. Roy played for Moffat in the charity game, scored a try or two but sadly got fined in the after match court session!

Jim Dignan, a local HMI Schools inspector was the first President. He with one of the founder members, the then local policeman (Neil MacPherson) plus a local idiot who acted as secretary, got the Club started. Neil was Mr "Fixit" as he cut the pitch, did the lines, got the kit ready; you name it he did it. He was honoured a few years ago by being made the first Honorary Life Member in recognition for all he did for the Club. He retired, or so the rumours go, as a person very much like him appears from time to time in various positions on the field. The second President was Angus (Gus) Campbell. He was a playing President but sadly announced his own retirement from the game last year. Will he feature on the field in other disguises? It is rumoured that he has some connection to the mystery scribe that places reports in the local papers but nobody knows if this is true or not. The present President is Willie J C Goudie. He and the present Committee have managed to secure the purchase of the ground, "Holm Park", and get an excellent, modern "Pavilion" facility built. We are one of only two clubs in the South West, Stewartry RFC being the other, to actually own their own ground.

Captains of the Club have been Ian Hobson, an Englishman, Taff Smith, a Welshman, Neil MacPherson, Andy Fairgrieve, Roy Thorburn, Kenny Lindsay, Kenny Carter and now Jamie McDowall all Scotsman! All have played an important part in getting the Club established.

We have a very successful Annual Tens Tournament being held in August every year. Clubs such as Melrose, Boroughmuir, Annan, Dumfries, Dalkeith, Cartha QP, and Stewartry attend. We joined the Glasgow and District Leagues in 1998 and came fourth in the first season. We became Glasgow and District Division Three Champions the following season, 1999 -2000.

The Club has a very successful Club Affiliation with Annan RFC. They have helped us to get established. Remembering that the Club was originally formed for the Mini and Midis, a number of our youngster's have played for the District sides. We have hosted games for the Dumfries and Galloway Bulls team. Thanks are due to the Mini and Midi organisers, Martin Coombes, Derek Jones, Malcolm Hetherington, Jim and Mo Johnstone, Sandy Turner and David Jack who give so much time to help the youngsters. The Mini Section continues to grow and grow and it is thanks to all the hard work done by the group of fanatics. They are the future players of the Club and their development as players is so important to the future survival of Moffat RFC.

Jim Hughes, owner of The Black Bull Hotel, was the main sponsor of the Club until this year. Without him we would not have became established so quickly. He has been a great support for the Club and we owe him a great debt of gratitude. He was a football man but I think we have almost converted him! Rumour has it he does disappear from time to time to watch a team from Glasgow that wear blue! Jim Hay wrote a poem for him when he was a guest speaker a few years ago and it ended up with something like: "Jim Hughes - He's no fool he owns the Black Bull!"

We have a social programme, which includes coffee mornings, Quiz Nights, Race Nights, Annual Dinner, Fathers Day Bar-B-Q and many others.

We mustn't forget the supporters of the Club. We have about 120 non-playing members and we regularly have 30 to 40 watching the games. They are very supportive in all we do, now we have the facility built at the Holm Park ground and added to that this website, communications with our membership can continue to improve. We will continue to keep them informed by Newsletters and regular mail drops, where possible, for those of us whom you might describe as 'technophobes'!

So, since the first idea mentioned in the Balmoral in the spring of 1994 the Club is well established, having purchased its own ground, have an increasing number of mini and midi players and has a senior team in the Leagues. We now have the "Pavilion" and the player base has expanded.

We have had a good start to this season and have intentions of doing well in the new league.