GHK News - The View from the First Man Over the Top

 

Labora dure, lude durius

 

Men. Vigor of intellect is good, and bodily vigor is even better, but far above both is character. In the long run, known as the great battle of life, no brilliancy of intellect, no perfection of bodily development, will count when weighed in the balance against that assemblage of virtues, active and passive, of moral qualities, which we group together under the name of character. It is under the banner of these positive human qualities that two proud clubs, who live cheek by jowl, will face each other tonight at Old Anniesland to celebrate the former GHK player, David Gilmore.

 

Both GHK and Glasgow Academicals have a proud and distinguished history. GHK were once a Scottish rugby force whilst Accies' golden age saw just 11 matches lost in their first 16 years during which six Academicals played in the inaugural Scotland vs. England international. This was followed by a remarkable post First World War era when Anniesland matches drew crowds of up to 10,000. However, club gain or international glory are not why we will play tonight, rather we play to remember a talented player who as above ‘worked hard and played harder’.

 

As a former captain of GHK, I have had the privilege of lifting the David Gilmour trophy and have felt the disappointment of seeing the silverware being lifted by the Men in blue and white. Yes, there will be a final score this evening, with a winner and a loser. One club will hold a full years bragging rights over their Anniesland neighbours. But this does not sit with the bigger picture. Your scribe, like many who would want to take to the field tonight, is unable to hold Dave Gilmore as a personal acquaintance. One thing however that transcends this personal barrier is an underlying appreciation of what our great game, Rugby Union, stands for. Individual and collective character.

 

Alike for the clubs of GHK and Glasgow Accies, the one indispensable requisite is character. Those who dare and do.  All kinds of qualities go to make up character, for, emphatically, the term should include the positive no less than the negative virtues. If we say of a fellow Man, "He is of good character," we mean that he does not do a great many things that are wrong, and we also mean that he does do a great many things which imply much effort of will and readiness to face what is disagreeable. He must not miss tackles, he must not be intemperate, he must not step too far over the fine line held within the rules; he must not be cheap; he must not seek self gain. He must be brave and energetic; he must be resolute and persevering. Perhaps there is no more important component of character than steadfast resolution. The player who is going to make a great man, or is going to count in the bar afterwards, must make up his mind not merely to overcome a thousand obstacles, but to win in spite of a thousand repulses or defeats whilst being able rest success along the lines on which he originally started.

 

Men. Every player that takes the field tonight must constitute himself his sport's keeper by setting an example which will prevent any false estimate of our great game Rugby Union. Example is the most potent of all things. If a man stumbles, it is a good thing to help him to his feet. Every one of us needs a helping hand now and then. But if a man lies down, it is a waste of time to try and carry him; and it is a very bad thing for every one if we make men feel that the same reward will come to those who shirk their work and those who do it.

 

The Regiment for this evenings match against Glasgow Academicals RFC at O.A., 7:15pm kick-off, is as follows: 


 

15. A.’Casanova’ Horton


14 J. ‘Don Juan‘ Sergeant-Awuse 

13. A. ‘Earl of Rochester’ McLay

12. D. ‘Abelard’ Hoffman
[c]

11. R. ‘Just’ Love

10. A. ‘Anthony’ Fleming

09. M. ‘Tristan’ Aird

01. A. ‘Isolde’ MacPhee

02. G. ‘Keith Lemon’ Reid

03. C. ‘ Henry VIII’ McLay

04. A. ‘Tommy Lee’ Drummond

05. Hugh ‘Hefner’ Parker

06. N. ‘G. Best’ Kiltie

07. G. ‘C. Sheen’ Woolard

08. A ‘Picasso’ Tilston

 

Replacements from:

16.. F ‘Jude Law’ Legget

17. R ‘Flavio Briatore‘ Shedden

18. G. ‘Will Carling’ Hollerin

19. P ‘Dean Martin‘ Ritchie

20. R ‘Clarke Gable‘ Taylor

21. F‘ Castro‘ Campbell-Young

22. D ‘John Terry’ Campbell

23. M ‘Ron Jeremy’ Borthwick

24. R ‘Ashley Cole‘ Murphy

 

Yours as always, running towards the gunfire. 11am Flying Scotsman. Pulling armpit hairs. Never wearing white boots. The need to pee at five to three. Forwards should always hunt in packs. Grasp the waistband. Never face the grass and never put your hands on backwards. Challenge your twilight hours. Teamtalks in the showers are the German way. Altos Band. Pate Pies. Cammy Little’s novel. One Name. Mine.

 

Disco

 

Supporting Note: Saturday 5th May 2007…

This article was posted on 11-Feb-2011, 10:09 by Hugh Barrow.