GHK – AGM.


GLASGOW HAWKS REPORT – 2005/6


The initial part of my report is almost a re-run of last year’s. I have great pleasure in reporting on another highly successful season for Hawks. Last year I quoted: ‘Good sides win Championships; great sides can repeat that achievement’ so to win 3 in-a-row starts to create the kind of legacy from which legends are made.

Of course it was disappointing to blow the cup against Currie for the second year in a row - but that should not detract from the achievements of the players and the coaching staff led by Davy Wilson with Mark Sitch as player/coach for the first team. A difficult dual role which I think we have learned is an unreasonable demand at this level.

I would, however, like to pay special tribute to Ally Craig the 2nd XV coach – who started the season with a team that struggled to get 15 players on the pitch, losing their first 3 league matches and ended with a team of enthusiastic, rapidly developing players, with a great team spirit that just lost out on the 2nd XV Championship on points difference. Ally was supported in his efforts by team manager John Gillies and Hawks Director Kenny Baillie.


This season also saw the start of the Club International select – which played against Ireland on the eve of the 6Nations championship match. So on your behalf I felt obliged to suffer another Dublin weekend just so that I could take in the match. Hawks were, as you expect well represented with 6 players on the field, Richie Maxton, Sandy Warnock, Murray Strang, Stuart Smith, Steven Duffy and Mike Adamson who were all presented with their Scottish Caps at the SRU Awards dinner on 29th May.

Further honours went to Iain Kennedy and Stephen Biggart in the Scotland Under 21s and Ross Macdonald who was selected for Scotland Under 19s.


Captain for the last 3 seasons Eric Milligan, joined the ever growing list of Hawks professionals in February of this year and we wish him every success. That list is now 31 strong since 1997.


My own appointment as Chair of Glasgow Hawks took place in November and, as has been pointed out many times by Anniesland regulars this coincided with the worst run of results over recent years – where from an unassailable position at the top of the league we contrived to make the Championship race exciting again. (I claim coincidence while others claim incompetence.)


We also held a very successful Dinner Dance at the Grosvenor on 6th May which was attended by in excess of 260. This very worthwhile event owed a lot to the drive and enthusiasm of Kenny Baillie as well as Greg Francis and Jenny Arnold who were his main assistants. Awards on the evening were presented to Player of the year Sandy Warnock, Young Player of the year – Niall Caddell, Club Volunteer of the Year – Scottie Inglis and special awards to retiring Physios Helen and Linda as well as a special contribution award to Mark Sitch.

A highly successful evening that brought back a few old friends and is well worth repeating.


But in looking forward we do need to realise that there will be significant challenges in the coming season. There will be a significant turnover in playing personnel given the retirement of Mark Sitch (who is moving back to Brisbane in a few weeks), and Steven Begley, the movement of some other players either to other clubs or for work reasons.


In addition there is uncertainty about the availability of Apprentices and pro players in the coming season and of course we face the competition of those clubs who are able and willing to either pay players or import them from overseas.

However, Davy Wilson, as head coach, will be supported by Davy Cockburn as forwards coach – (he has experience of coaching at Scotland Under 21 level as well as Watsonians, Peebles and Gala); Keith Robertson – an excellent skills; and Graham Porterfield who will assist with the conditioning and fitness programmes something he also does for the Glasgow pro team. Scotty Inglis as team manager completes what I think is a very professional support arrangement for the players.


In addition I am in the process of reorganising the Board to take on the challenges of creating a sustainable organisation to take us forward over the next few years. In addition to the important rugby division we will focus on Finance and funding; Commercial and sponsorship activity and club development with the hope of securing the services of a club development manager to help increase the numbers playing at all levels.


I have had the opportunity to make an initial presentation to your committee and I would hope that each of these 4 areas of activity will involve a large cross-section of the club membership in helping shape the future of rugby at Anniesland. So the next time you get that tap on the shoulder – it might not be to buy the next round, but instead to volunteer in 1 of the 4 key priority areas of activity in the coming year.

This article was posted on 21-Jun-2006, 09:37 by Hugh Barrow.