Whitecraigs Rugby Club 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, the introduction of women's & girls rugby, and the senior teams rising through the various leagues to the 1stXV currently in Tennent’s 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, Line Dancing and various fitness classes. In providing a multi-sport environment the Club fulfills 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.