Not for the first time Belfast bound

Like Hawks --Belfast Harlequins is a recent combination formed out of two clubs with long and distinguished histories

Our link with one of Harlequins founder clubs goes back a long time to 1873 when Glasgow Accies F C first travelled to Belfast to play one of Harlequin's founder clubs North of Ireland F C This was the first Scottish football team of either code to play in Ireland even before Queens Park crossed The Irish Sea
North of Ireland visited Glasgow in 1880 to play Accies and were entertained in the George Hotel in George Square not far from The Corinthian a watering hole for present generations


Belfast Harlequins was formed in 1999 with the merger of Collegians and North of Ireland FC. The former
 club was one of the oldest and most distinguished clubs in Ireland. North sold its famous ground at Ormeau, one of the earliest international rugby venues in Ireland to help finance the redevelopment of the Deramore Park facilities.

The new club uses a version of the Maltese cross that Methodist College Belfast uses as its sports logo, with the colours being those of navy, sky blue, red and maroon. The North colours were traditionally red, blue and black, with Collegians using navy, white and maroon.

One of their former greats was Irish Cap Mike Gibson who represented his country in four positions and once famously described a  Lions Tour as a business trip

Anniesland clubs have had long standing connections to Belfast with Glasgow HSFP back to 1923 and Glasgow Accies having played Instonians on many occasions often at Ravenhill stretching back over ninety years and during  that era the clubs from both sides of the Anniesland fenceline could take on and beat the best of Ulster 

Make no mistake these were high quality matches on one occasion when Glasgow Accies met Instonians twelve international caps played six on each side

In more recent times Hawks visited and played Malone in 2002 and GHK went down 20-43 to a strong Instonians side in Belfast in 2005 in the Balmaha Trophy match 
This trophy was first played for in 1966 and has been played for by  Glasgow High/GHK and Instonians on a regular basis over the years since then

This weekend sees the tradition continue when Hawks travel to Belfast to play Harlequins as part of the pre season programme

This article was originally posted on 10-Aug-2011, 09:47 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 10-Aug-2011, 10:59.