GLITTERING LINEUP AT NEW ANNIESLAND

Glasgow Accies Chairman’s XV

Vs
Accies Exiles XV

Wednesday 26th

DECEMBER 2007

New Anniesland

Kick Off 2pm

Chairman's Welcome

I am pleased to welcome you to New Anniesland this afternoon for the Annual Boxing Day match.

It was Alasdair Graham who first introduced this challenge match some eight years ago and it very quickly found a permanent and popular place in the fixture list. In the seven previous fixtures one was drawn and of the remaining six Accies have won twice and the Exiles four times.

This season our two club teams have had differing fortunes. The 1st XV have had a poor season to date winning only three of their fifteen matches while the 2nd XV have had some splendid results and are still contenders to push for promotion.

We are ever hopeful that some of today’s Exiles will eventually return to Glasgow and play for the Club. The facilities we now have at Anniesland are first class and I am sure you will notice that the standard of our pavilion, both inside and outside, is improving year by year.

Members are encouraged to make use of the Clubhouse for private Parties/Functions for themselves, their business and families. Ken Barron the Catering Manager can be contacted on 07939 551587.

Once again we are fortunate to have Grant Wilson back as our referee. We are pleased that he has recovered from an injury that kept him out of the game for some time.

I hope that you enjoy your day with us at Anniesland and wish you and your family all good wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2008.

Ronnie A. Mitchell

Following the recent deaths of Hamish Dawson, many times capped internationalist, Jimmy Thomson, a traveling reserve for Scotland, and now Ronnie Mitchell the Academical Club has suffered the loss, in a couple of months, three of its stalwarts of the 1st XV in the late 1940’s and early 50’s. In September 1948 Ronnie went straight into the 1st XV at Accies on leaving school at Merchiston, where he had been a schoolboy star. He soon proved his worth scoring eight tries in his first eight games in addition to kicking the odd goal. He held his place in the XV for most of the next six years until he did his National Service and thereafter again played in the 1st XV for a couple of years. His great game was against a star studded Oxford University side at New Anniesland on 13th March 1950. The Oxford side was a very strong one full of internationalists including several from South Africa. Ronnie saved a certain try by hauling one of the South Africans, Botting, back over the try line when it seemed certain that he would score and then in the final minute of the game he kicked a penalty goal for Accies to win the match 6-5 against all the odds.

Fellow players and spectators alike will fondly remember Ronnie.

(A fuller text of this tribute will be published in the Academical website)

50 Years Ago Yesterday

At Balgray: Kelvinside Accies 5 Glasgow Accies 11

Yes that is correct. Accies used to play Kelvinside Accies on Christmas day in an annual fixture, usually in front of one of the biggest crowds of the season.

After the Match

You will be made most welcome in the Clubhouse where tea/coffee and mince pies will be available. The bar will also be open in case you need something a little stronger to help you recover from yesterday.

Disco Tonight

8-00pm till 1-00am. Cost £6 students £3. Pay at the door

ACCIES XV

15 Cammy Little--GHK-Glasgow Rugby-The Barbarians
14 Mike Hermes
13 Dougie Horne
12 Stuart Smith--Glasgow Hawks-Waikato B
11 Craig Wright
10 Kenny Baillie--Hutchesons GS-Edinburgh Accies-Glasgow Hawks
09 Alan Wilson (Capt.)

01 Andy Lawson
02 Matteo Giovanazzi
03 Alan Perrie-Glasgow Hawks
04 James Howie
05 Colin Malcolm
06 Matt Smith--Glasgow Hawks
07 Andy Jackson--Glasgow Hawks
08 Ali McLay--Glasgow Hawks-Scotland under 21

As usual rolling subs will be in operation and these include:
Ross Chassels
Andrew Lundie
Ian Williamson
Brian Keogh
Craig Clarke
Max Henderson
Ali McLaren
Dave Miller

Exiles XV
15 Stuart Low Glasgow Hawks
14 Simon Young Edinburgh Accies
13 Jonnie Adams Stewart's Melville-Boroughmuir
12 Ricky Mundy Glasgow Hawks
11 Robert Mcleod Newcastle University
10 Murray Strang Glasgow Hawks--Aberdeen GSFP--Heriots
09 Stuart Ker Stewart's Melville

01 Chooks Aganya Glasgow Hawks
02 Colin Tennant Glasgow Hawks
03 Jamie Corskery Glasgow Hawks
04 Jamie Robertson Stewards Melville
05 Sandy Fitzpatrick The Army
06 Adam Howie Stewards Melville
07 Graeme Maclean Murrayfield Wanderers
08 Grant Strang Glasgow Hawks--Aberdeen GSFP

Rolling Subs:
Garry Smith Aberdeen University
Fraser Lundie Stad Francais
Stephen Biggart Glasgow Hawks -Scotland under 21
Gavin Macdonald Glasgow Hawks
Kenny Hamilton--Glasgow High-GHK- Premier 1 Forum