Memories of the Melrose Sports

As Hawks and Hawks Vets teams prepare for their annual visit to the Melrose Sevens or as they were historically known the Melrose Sports your aged and partly metallic scribe has memories of one particular year 1970 to be precise

Not many can lay claim to appearing on the Greenyards turf at final time as that is for the few such is the level achievement required but in that particular year there was another medium available namely athletics

In 1970 between the semi final and the final Melrose put on a 1 mile invitation race euphemistically called a short limit handicap

This writer having taken part in an inviatation 1 mile event at Hampden Park earlier in the same afternoon as part of the pre match programme for the Scottish Cup Final between Aberdeen and Celtic(Dons won 3-1 in front of 108,000)  then drove to Melrose in time for final of the Sevens
However success in the latter was to prove elusive--mind you a city boy couldn't expect to get much from a Borders Handicapper


The Melrose Sports
Haig's contribution according to that statement by himself was the idea of a football tournament. The wording suggests that the reduction to seven players per side was the outcome of discussion among some or probably all of the Club's officials of the mechanics of running such a tournament. It is not now possible to say whether a football tournament with athletic events, or athletic events with a football tournament was the original idea. Whatever the truth of the matter may be, generations of spectators and players have been grateful that the Melrose Sports were started and included a football tournament. Originally the "seven men" comprised a full back, two quarter-backs and four forwards but with the development of the passing game the forwards were reduced to three and an extra half-back played.
Initially, the programme contained foot races, drop kicks, dribbling races and place kicking. The "Football Competition", however was the main attraction and a cup was presented for it by "The Ladies of Melrose". Such events as drop-kicks already featured in the Highfield Academy sports but never had the idea of a football competition been mooted. On 28th April, 1883, the first Melrose Sports were held.
"Under the auspices of the Melrose Club sports were held in the Greenyards on Saturday. The events began at 12.30 and concluded at 7.30. The day was not very favourable being cold during the forepart and wet long before the close.

Good luck to both Hawks teams over this weekend

This article was originally posted on 3-Apr-2011, 07:29 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 3-Apr-2011, 08:03.