News

30 October 2007 - Rising phoenix-like from the ashes

Portobello RFC (Porty) have been playing rugby since the early twenties but only reformed after the war in 1954. The club has played at the site of the current High School (soon to be a housing scheme?), the golf course (soon to be the site of a new High School?) and since the seventies at Cavalry Park.

In 1977, the members built a club house on the present site. The highlight of the opening of the clubhouse was a match between our 1st xv strengthened by the inclusion of the late Scotland and British Lions stalwart Bruce Hay and former SRU Chief Executive and Scotland player Bill Watson and a team coached by Jim Telfer which included Scotland Internationalists John Rutherford, Keith Robertson, Eric Paxton and Gordon Hunter.

Plans were in hand to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the building before the fire which destroyed the internal fabric of the building on 27 May this year.

After much hard work, the renovated clubhouse will reopen on Saturday 10 November 2007 at 1pm. The opening ceremony will be performed by Colin Thomson, Head of Community Rugby, and hopefully several prominent politicians, local members of the community and members of the club involved in the rejuvenation, will be in attendance.

We are greatly indebted to the Scottish Rugby Union, Friends of Scottish Rugby, The City of Edinburgh Council, the Gordon Brown Memorial Trust and many, many individuals within the rugby fraternity who have rallied round the club and provided financial support which has allowed us to enhance the facilities available to all within the Portobello community and beyond.

We have been heartened by the response from all our rugby friends exemplified by the members of Heriots Junior Section who presented us with a cheque for £500 after their fundraising efforts.

Prior to the opening, the Golden Oldies will play Gala Golden Oldies, the 2xv will play Preston Lodge and a school xv will play Lasswade. After the opening ceremony, at 2pm, the 1st XV will play Hawick Linden in an East League Division 1 match.

The new clubhouse has enhanced facilities to ensure all those involved in rugby can socialise in relaxed yet functional surroundings.

On the playing front, Porty continues to build from the youth section upwards.

There are currently 100+ kids playing at all levels of mini, midi and youth supported by a myriad of parents and volunteers. There will be an U18 team shortly and hopefully an U20 team to complete the development of players.

The senior section are running three teams and have plans to increase that to four including a Golden Oldie team, and a women’s team. The Golden Oldies will take part in the World Golden Oldies tournament being held in Edinburgh in September 2008.

Many thanks for your continued support in our efforts to establish rugby as a major sport in the Portobello area.

Iain Goodall