News

29 May 2007 - Clubhouse Fire Messages

Here are just a selection of messages received over the last few days (email, telephone, text). Thank you.

Last updated: 21 June 2007

Hey guys, what can i say gutted for all the members at the club, many guys have put so much time and effort into that place over the years and for that to happen....but as i thought the porty spirt and determination has overcome this. As i see you've had so many offers throughout the support. If we can help let me know. All the best guys.

Fraser Sutherland

Guys what can I say I am totally gutted to hear this news by some mindless idiots I have many happy memories in my short time at the club if there is any fundraising or anything I can do please let me know and I will try and help if I can.

Julian Luke

Sorry to hear about the clubhouse being destroyed. I have lots of fantastic memories from there when I played for you durung late 80's early 90's when Roddie McLeod told me it was a great place to play... and it was.. Regards to all involved at the club and good luck rebuilding. I now live in Melbourne Australia so hopefully the next time I return it will be restored. Take Care.

Hugh Ryan

Dear Rugby Friends. I was shocked to hear the bad news about the fire in your clubhouse. I know the spirit of rugby will overcome this setback and that "Porty" will come back stronger than before. Good luck for the future.

Sean Fitzpatrick (Auckland and New Zealand)

Heard the news,saw the pictures, I feel gutted. If I can help please call me.We built the Clubhouse once, we can do it again. So many good memories.

Les Langham

Shaking with anger after bringing myself to look at the photos. Still, need to look at the positives, Porty is the people and this kind of thing will bring us together. You dont know what you have till you've lost it and all that...

Chris Thomas

I do not know if this will pop up on your web site but just to say that I will be delighted to help out. It is a shame that a bunch of idiots can resort to this behaviour but the Porty spirit will ensure that the local community will get behind the club. Think big - create a youth club within the club so that this sort of thing does not happen and that the youngsters through rugby will take ownership. I am sure that all manner of fundraising will commence and dare I say - we'll get the Scottish Legends to play a game and raise some money. If you wish some jerseys to display in the future I am sure that I can dust down some from the loft! Good luck and look foward to a few years time and the opeing of the new facility.

Scott Hastings (Watsonians, Scotland and British Lions)

Hey guys, hope you're all well. Really sorry to hear about the fire, but I know you'll all pick up and continue. I'm devastated myself, and I was only with you for the colts. Have a good summer, I'l probablly see you in a pre-season friendly or two. Daniel.

Daniel aka Blinky

Very sorry to hear about the clubhouse fire and hope you can get it back in shape for the next Season,hopefully some of the mementos survived. We enjoyed our Sevenoaks/Westerham tour match and fantastic hospitality at Portobello in April 07, let me know if you want a replacement tour shirt.

Andy P (Sevenoaks)

Have heard that you have had a fire at the club house .. tragic I am sure. Can we at 7oaks do anything to help, friendly game etc to raise money. The guys were really impressed to play you all on tour and gutted to hear about the fire. Let me know and we will try and arrange something.

Peter (Sevenoaks)

I received your email over a week ago, but really did not know how to respond, apart from the obvious. However, after a great deal of thought, I think you need to re-introduce the death penalty for ars*h*les whose psycopathic misdeeds rip apart the fond memories of a small community. Unfortunately, I only have old photos of Porty School stuff, but you are welcome to whatever I have. Keep the old Porty chin up. All the best.

Paul Thomson (Juno Beach, Florida)

I just wanted to say how sorry I was to hear about the fire and loss of club historic photos and memorabilia - I hope you get everything back on track soon.

Rachel

Just to say that I was really sorry to read about the clubhouse fire - terrible news. If there is anything I can do to help with the clean up or any future fundraising etc please let me know. Best wishes.

Scott Lothian

Really sorry to hear about the fire, if there is anything we can do to help let me know.

Hugh Cumming (Caledonian Thebans)

Like everyone connected with the club, past and present, I was really devastated to hear the news about the fire as were the rest of the Ross family who spent many enjoyable years there. The clubhouse can be rebuilt but the memorabilia and memories built up over the years are the big loss and will be hard if not impossible to replace. Good luck with the rebuild

Grant

Really sorry to hear about the club house you guy's don't deserve that. however congratulations on such a sucessful season and good luck for the future.

Jim Handyside

GUTTED. Fresh start though, look forward to seeing what you boys do to the club by the time I get back.

Dave Webster aka Flexi

Just heard about this via Jason Currie and am absolutely shocked and very much saddened to hear this news. No matter where I am in the world, I always know the club is there as a second 'home', somewhere I can go along to when I'm back in Edinburgh, and share a pint with some familiar faces. To have lost so much history is terrible, but the club lives on and anything I can do later this year when I'm home for a visit is a given. Lets try to make this into an opportunity to go forward again with renewed vigour, to galvanise both the lapsed and active membership of the club (all of whom will want to rally round after this). Just a couple of ideas but lets get publicity to the local community asking for copies of any pictures people may have of family members involved in the club etc and start to try to build the history again from what we can obtain. Similarly, an appeal to the home unions to advertise this may provide replacement items from clubs who have toured here in the past. All the best, you can tell how upset i am, i'd never sign my name like that without it being an event of such significance!!!

Keith 'Sleazy' Veitch

Gutted at the state of the club after the fire. Had loads of good times there over the years and although I've not been there for a while you can take the boy out of Porty but you cannae take Porty out of the boy. Keep me posted on how the rebuilding is progressing and if I can help I will do. Cheers.

Kenny Ingram

Just want to echo the comments of others. We have all had great times there and seeing it like that is a shock to everyone. However the club will move on from this setback, it always does. Happy to help if I can.

Steven Crowther

So sorry to read about the fire. You all must be devastated. We always enjoy our visits to Porty, and hope to do so again next season.

Shona Stott, P4 Coach and Child Protection Officer (Musselburgh Rugby Club)

Sorry to hear about my old stomping ground. Let me know if Broughton can do anything to help?

Mark Brown (Broughton Rugby Club)

I am devastated for all your members and players at the recent fire. I organised the Ripley Rhinos tour that played you in April and we all enjoyed your hospitality and friendship and we all send our good will and hope you get things sorted quickly and get all the help you need. Once again sorry for this sad news.

Simon Stanton

Shocked! I have had so many great times in Porty HQ over 30 years with the Club. The senior Club members who put in so much to building the clubhouse must be devastated. However, Vince (as usual) got it spot on "the clubhouse is only bricks and mortar, but the Club is so much more, the club is the people." We must take that spirit forward to ensure that we keep up our recent improvement and, even if we become homeless waifs for a season or 2, continue to be a Club that offers a hard & fair game on the pitch and a warm welcome off it and one that friends and opponents look forward to visiting. As Club members we must rise to this challenge and provide whatever support we are able to give to the Committee. Ask not what Porty can do for you but what you can do for Porty." (JFK - honest!) The future can be bright if we engage the wider community in Porty and the fellowship of rugby supporters everywhere to ensure this set back becomes an opportunity. Any Porty FP multi-millionaires out there with a few bob to spare?

Dougie Potter

As everyone has all ready said it is difficult to see, especially when the club has been like a second home. But we can only look at making the club even bigger and better than before - it'll be hard work but i for one am fully committed in helping out whatever way i can,and i know there are many many more out there who feel the same.

Stuart Douglas

Really disappointed to hear the news about the clubhouse. Visited with Knaresborough RUFC just a few weeks ago and we thoroughly enjoyed the game and your hospitality afterwards. All the best with the challenge of rebuilding.

Iain Shaw

Just found out this morning...what a disaster. Really shocked. What is the point of vandalism like that? It is just so mindless. It is devastating but it is also an opportunity. I am sure the committee will find a way to get more local people and businesses involved in rebuilding the club making it even stronger in the future. Let me know if I can help.

Rory Innes

Sorry to hear about the clubhouse. I saw the pictures on the website - its hard to take in. I just thought id offer my support - if there is anything I can do then let me know.

Craig Little (Highland RFC)

I am heartbroken to see your clubhouse. I came on tour with Ripley Rhinos in April and found you guys to be fantastic. I know you will get back on your feet and I know I speak for Ripley when I say I would love to play you again either in Ripley or even better in your rebuilt club house. All the best.

Copey

Anything I can do to help, let me know.

Humphrey

There are no words to describe what I4ve just seen, I can4t find any reason for somebody to do that. I realy feel sorry and sad. And hope Porty could fly high again like a phoenix reborn from the Ashes.

Fernando San Frutos Dos Santos

The pics look awful. How terribly sad this is. If I can help in any way then please let me know.

Steve McIntyre

Just seen the pix of the clubhouse - what a shame. I was hoping that the medals n trophies weren't damaged too much but then saw the Captains board - sorry all and hoping you get back up and running soon. Thoughts are with ya.

Kirky

Devastating news about our home, particularly on the back of such a fantastic season. But with the positive vibe that is running through the club on the back of last season's great campaigns we can overcome this major setback, and treat it as a clean slate on which to write an exciting new chapter in our club's history.

Danny Roarty

Couldn't believe this when I got the e-mail this morning. I was genuinely sad when I saw the photos. All the best with the clean up. If I was anywhere near Edinburgh then I would certainly help out.

Gethin

It was pretty upsetting learning of what had happend to the clubhouse this morning. In a way I think this will make the club as a whole stronger.

Andy Mason

I heard this morning about the fire and having seen the pictures I find it difficult to know what to say. I know it's only bricks and mortar and thank fully no one was hurt but a large and very enjoyable part of my life has been spent in this club. I know that many people both past and present members will feel exactly the same. I also know that it will not keep us from enjoying many more years at Porty and I wait for the detail of how we can all help to welcome in another even more successful year at Porty.

Vince Ridd

Sad news boys. Try not to let it over shadow the fantastic season you've had. The team and its characters will live on and im sure a new club hoose will be built ready for new memories and to be made and even more great times to be had. No little degenerate vandal will keep Porty down.

Andrew Jeffries

Devastating, i only hope that the little scrott's that did this, realise that not only have they damaged the club but a lot of peoples hard work over the last few years. This must be heartbreaking for some of the older members of the club who put a lot of work into raising the funds to build it. We have all had some great nights in the club and will do again!! Lets hope some of the photos etc, which are a part of the clubs history, have been saved from the fire, if not, I won a signed picture of Vince in a raffle a few years ago I was looking for somewhere to hang it!!!!!

Ian H

Took the time from work to see the devastation for myself. What a sad sight however, the club will not end!! Like the pheonix it will rise from the ashes and hopefully have many more seasons like our last. I know it may be a while off but start looking out any old team photos you have in the back of your cupboards. The club will need them.

Lee Dickson

Feeling the pain over the pond with all the rest of the members today. sh*tty to see the place like that. Keep us posted on the rebuild.

Alan Freeman

Could not believe it when i seen it .. i think it will take a few days to sink in .. absolutely gutted. I am however optimistic that all the members of the club will do there utmost to help in anyway they can.

Martin Currie

All pretty sad but things will have to progress and move forward again - many happy memories but sure many more to come however the club decide to progress. With the field of dreams still available, the new executive changing rooms open and the ever increasing numbers of players we at least have something to build on.

Dave Hardy

Sad and shocked when i read the email link and saw the photos this morning. Even having only played at Porty for a couple of seasons a while back I have loads of memories of the place and can only hope that everyone can pull together and help sort out the clubhouse.

Guss

Hi Guys, my son Sean Hollywood sent me the web page link showing the devestation at your clubhouse. What a great shame. I had a nice time there a couple of years ago when I visited and was treated very well. This is so sad. I wish you the best of luck.

Mike Hollywood (Accra, Ghana, West Africa)

Ed Henderson