With the SRU AGM fuelling the debate on coach development and pathways between Club and pro game it is worth pondering the role that the Scottish School of Physical Education played in the process of producing many good and some great Rugby coaches and teachers
This august body that was based at Jordonhill was a conveyor belt for developing men with sporting nous generally and rugby nous in particular

In accord with the line "when propellers were made of wood and men were made of iron "they produced many with a certain steeliness

Men like;
Bill Dickinson a rugby visionary who became Scotland's first national coach but never enjoyed the title

Ian McLauchlan no introduction needed there-- about the only time I recall him being out manoeuvred was when Davie Moyes Snr (father of Everton manager) of Anniesland College fame drafted in boys from Drumchapel Amateurs in the Glasgow Colleges Saturday Soccer league when Ian was teaching at Springburn College
Strangely Drumchapel Amateurs who produced many of the iconic figures of Scottish football like Kenny Dalgleish and Alex Ferguson was founded and sustained by a Glasgow Accie Douglas Smith

John Roxburgh who became the first full time technical official appointed by the SRU .John started the appointment of rugby development officersAfter retirement from the SRU he served as director of rugby at Hawks

Jim Blair who went in tho become fitness coach to the All Blacks using his famous grid system

The late and sadly missed Charlie Forsyth who taught at various schools incl Glasgow High School and played a great back room role at Hawks over many years

Jimmie Sinclair another of the alumini of Jordonhill who has taught and coached rugby for more than a few years and who now shares coaching duties at Hawks with Jamie Dempsey

Jordonhill College had a huge impact on the development of sport in Scotland that is still felt today

Our picture shows Jimmie Sinclair and Alan Francis Greg's father who later went on to a senior PE position at Glasgow University

This article was originally posted on 2-Jul-2012, 12:51 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 3-Jul-2012, 07:30.