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WELCOME
by KENNY BAILLIE
Good afternoon and I’m sure we are all glad that there is rugby on today to stop us doing last minute Christmas shopping. That said, if you do need to pick up some stocking fillers for wives, girlfriends, husbands, mums, sisters etc., please visit the Christmas market that is happening in the stand. More of that later.
Currie come to Old Anniesland as the form team in Premier 1 winning three out of their last four games, including a 62 – 20 thrashing of second placed Selkirk a month ago. With the experienced Ally Donaldson and Graham Hogg on the coaching staff, they were always going to be a strong side in this year’s league.
It seems a long time ago now, but back in September, Hawks put in one of their best performances of the season when we defeated Currie 26 – 25 at Malleny Park and hopefully we repeat the result this afternoon. A very warm welcome to all the Currie players, President Brian Buckner and his committee and any Currie supporters who have travelled through this afternoon.
Given that out last home game against Boroughmuir was postponed due to a frozen pitch, I would once again like to officially welcome Byron Möhr and Mat Whittleston to Glasgow Hawks and Old Anniesland.
Byron (25) has come to Hawks from Villager RFC in Cape Town, South Africa having been their top try scorer for the past two seasons, predominantly playing at outside centre. He also has a degree in
Accounting Science from both the University of Cape Town and the University of South Africa.
Mat (25) comes to Hawks with an outstanding pedigree having played for the Randwick Club in Sydney for the past few seasons, winning player of the year in 2007. He just missed out on playing in this year’s Sydney Grand Final against Sydney University due to a leg injury, but if he had played he would have been in the company of 11 full cap Wallabies who were all released to play in the game by Robbie Deans, the Wallabies Head Coach. There are many of us in Scotland that would love to a similar thing happen here! Mat is a qualified graphic designer and has a Major in Enterprise Management & Marketing. Welcome lads…I hope it’s not too cold!
TODAY'S SPONSORS
I would like to welcome back two long-standing supporters of Hawks rugby in James Sim Limited and PRG Partnership.
This is the third time this season that JAMES SIM LIMITED has sponsored a match which is very good news for Hawks Rugby and we are all extremely grateful to Russell Sim and his colleagues for their continued support. In business for 50 years, James Sim Limited is Landlord for commercial and industrial properties To Let at several sites in the Greater Glasgow area. Thanks again, Russell, and I hopefully you’ll get the right result this afternoon.
The PRG PARTNERSHIP is located in Glasgow, Clydebank, Erskine and Kirkintilloch and offers various services including Injury Lawyers, Divorce Lawyers, Criminal Lawyers, Tax Lawyers, Tax Solicitors, accident lawyers, bankruptcy lawyers and claims solicitors. Senior Partner, David Newton, is a very well-known figure at Old Anniesland having been President of Glasgow High School Club Limited, president of GHK RFC and latterly a Director of Glasgow Hawks. Welcome David and guests – I hope you have a good afternoon.
FUTURE OF PREMIERSHIP DIVISION 1
The print media recently ran a story that the Premiership Division 1 clubs were about to break away from the SRU and form their own league. This is not going to happen, but I think it demonstrates quite clearly that many of the clubs in Scotland’s top club league are looking to broaden their horizons beyond the current set-up and drive change in the club game.
Throughout Scotland on a week-to-week basis, we hear that clubs are very worried about financial sustainability and they fear for the coming seasons. In many respects, we at Hawks are no different as we have to work very hard to generate sponsorship and advertising income which is the backbone of the clubs finances. The challenge for all clubs is to sell Scottish club rugby to their local communities and sponsors, but this is proving harder and harder as the print media are not covering the club game as much as they used to. That said, one very positive initiative is the screening of club rugby on the new BBC Alba channel.
Today it is the turn of Glasgow Hawks to host a Sunday game and although players, coaches and supporters generally dislike like Sunday rugby, I think the opportunity to broadcast club rugby live on the TV has to be grabbed as it will allow all clubs in Premier 1 the opportunity to give their sponsors and advertisers the chance to get some much needed exposure.
HAWKS CHRISTMAS MARKET
Today we are running a Christmas Market in the Jimmie Ireland stand and I would like to encourage as many of you as possible to nip inside to see all the various items on sale including:
- Art - ceramics; textiles; abstracts; cards; jewellery; dichroic glass; Metalwork; Pet Keepsakes
- Wellbeing – Macdonald Hotels Pamper room – offering massages and waxing; Decleor products will be on sale, along with & Pamper Gift Vouchers. Plus Hollywood Nails will also be giving mini manicures & offering a file/polish to shape up your nails for Christmas! (book your time slots now);
- General – baking stall; bottle stall; book stall; music stall; mulled wine & mince pies; Big Boys toys stall; Sponsor a Hawk!
In addition, all the stalls are donating one item each towards a hamper which will be the main prize in the raffle. Lunch will also be available for those feeling peckish.
The Hawks Uncovered 2009 calendar will be HOT of the press as well. Orders currently standing at 140.
The market opens at 12:00 PM and will run throughout the Hawks -v- Currie game and will close at 5:30 PM.
Next home games, Saturday, January 10
1st XV Old Anniesland Boroughmuir RFC KO 3:00 PM
Kenny Baillie
Chief Executive
21.12.2008
This article was posted on 19-Dec-2008, 17:14 by Hugh Barrow.
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