Chairman's Welcome


On behalf of Glasgow Accies Rugby I extend a warm welcome and best wishes to everyone visiting New Anniesland today. We hope that you enjoy your visit this afternoon and we look forward to you joining us in the Clubhouse after the match.
If you have not been to Anniesland for some time you may be surprised at the changes that have taken place in recent years. Some may not be noticeable such as the new roof on the clubhouse and the central heating in the dressing rooms but we feel the new parking arrangements, tarmacing, fitness suite and revamp of the squash court bar may impress you.
Please go on a tour of inspection or ask someone to show you around. In an ever changing world it is important that we do not stand still and our facilities will ensure that we continue to provide a first class environment for our sports people to enjoy.
Today’s game is all about having fun on the rugby field away from the pressures of league rugby. We are delighted that Accies who play their rugby elsewhere still want to come back home for this annual get together. It is a unique opportunity to meet old friends and perhaps to impress with their skill, fitness and technique developed while playing for other teams. We often say,’ where would Accies be if all these players were available to us on a regular basis’? Perhaps some day some of them will return in the evening of their rugby careers and add to the quality being developed at New Anniesland.
Our coaches Simon Wintle and Chas Afuakwah should be proud of what they have achieved this season. At the start there was considerable concern that we would not have a pack that would be able to provide a talented back division with sufficient ball to win games. The young pack has improved out of all recognition and are now a force to be reckoned with in National 2. Unfortunately due to a spate of injuries that have dogged them all season, the threequarters have lacked the continuity to play to the best of their potential. Call off’s due to injury, business commitments, examinations and the desire to play for the Hawks have meant that there are regularly 3 or 4 changes every week in the line up. Hopefully things will improve after the New Year when promotion might still be on the agenda and a good run in the Shield would add to the confidence.
Unfortunately a number of the regular Accies XV have returned home for Christmas and they welcome three guest players, Ally McLay, who teaches PE at Glasgow Academy, Colin Malcolm who played for us last season but is playing for Cummnock this year, Stephen Biggart and Andrew Lundy the Glasgow Academy stand off.
The league position to date is as follows:
Played Won Lost Drawn Points For Points Against Bonus P. Points Place
Accies 15 9 6 0 303 293 6 42 6th
The Exiles XV is along the usual lines with no fewer than 8 Hawks all of whom have had first team experience, two of them Stewart Smith and Murray Strang were capped for the Scottish amateur side against Ireland last season. We congratulate them on this significant achievement. Two of the more mature members make a welcome return Graeme Maclean who has been out of rugby for a lengthy period with an injury and Sandy Fitzpatrick home on leave from the army for the first Christmas for three or four years.
Murray Strang captains the side and his brother, a regular in the Aberdeen GSFP side plays at No.8.Very best wishes to you all for 2007.


Teams

Glasgow Academicals
1st XV Accies Exiles
1st XV

15 Ross Chassels
14 Mike Hermes
13 Jonny Adams
12 Ally McLay
11 Craig Wright
10 Andrew Lundy
9 Stephen Biggart

1 Fraser Cameron
2 Colin Tennant
3 Matt Franklin
4 Colin Malcolm
5 Graeme Lusk
6 Paul Allan
7 Andy Jackson
8 Colin Tennant

Replacements:

Andrew Ker
Robert McLeod
Ricky Munday
Stewart Smith
Stuart Low
Murray Strang (Capt.)
Richard McKnight

David Calder
Matt Smith
Chooks Aganya
Jamie Robertson
Sandy Fitzpatrick
Niall Caddell
Graeme Maclean
Grant Strang



Stuart Ker Rammy Baxter
Alan Ker Stuart McKnight
Ross Campbell
Garry Smith
Chas Afuakwah
Stevie Winter
Chris Breckenridge
Match Referee :


The new ‘200 Club’ commences at the end of December. Application
forms are available from the Steward at the bar. Please give your support to this venture, as it is the main fund-raiser this season.
Tea/Coffee and a mince pie are available in the Clubhouse after the match at a cost of £1.50

This article was originally posted on 24-Dec-2006, 09:08 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 24-Dec-2006, 12:25.