Breadalbane Finance Community Rugby Story Of The Month … Aberdeenshire

03/31/2025 11:05 AM

AT a time when clubs in the Caledonia area are battling to bring some much-needed status back to a region which badly needs a shot in the arm, it’s one of the oldest outfits north of the Tay who are capturing the headlines with an imaginative sesquicentennial anniversary year-long celebration. 

So, while Gordonians are looking forward to stepping up into National League One next season, and Aberdeen Grammar have steadied themselves in National Three after an appalling run of form which has seen the Rubislaw side suffer three consecutive relegations, it is Aberdeenshire who are bidding to win the affections of youngsters in the Granite City.

Aberdeenshire, who recently finished top of the North Conference of Caledonia Region League One, are marking 150 years of playing the game in Aberdeen, but according to club stalwart Alasdair Farquharson, the club is determined to not just celebrate the past but also use their sesquicentenary as an opportunity to look to the future.

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“We have had a fascinating run going back to 1875, which includes having played at Mannofield, and then moving on to our current ground at Woodside. We are fortunate enough to have a young management team who are seeing their way to put something back into the game, including attracting youngsters into the game,” said the 69-year-old, who is originally from Jedburgh and fondly recalls being at the club’s 100th anniversary, as a raw 18-year-old making his way in the game.

"The success of our 1st XV this season has been a real boost, but even more gratifying is the revival of our youth section. We've run under-13 and under-14 teams this season, and we'll have an under-15 team next season. I've been along to a few games and the improvement the players have made in the space of a few months is tremendous – you really can see them getting better week on week.

"But the really great thing is how they have really become part of the whole club. Paul Harrow, our development officer, really has imbued these young players with the rugby ethos and an appreciation of what it means to be part of a rugby club. They've started coming along to watch the 1st XV off their own bat, and after our last home league match against Mackie at the start of March they formed a guard of honour to clap both teams off the park, which nobody asked them to do!"

Farquharson has been a key figure in the club for the last third of its long history, filling various posts, starting with coach to the under-18’s; from there he became youth convener, director of rugby, Vice-President and President. 50 years on and he is still serving the game, and while he has no formal role in the run up to the 150th celebrations, the current President Michael MacLuglash will be sure to lean on his experienced predecessor in that role.

MacLuglash underlines the case made by Farquharson, as he is still in his 30s and crucially is a member of the 'Shire team in which he has a strong working relationship on and off the field with Harrow, who is 1st XV captain as well as the club’s development officer. The two have spearheaded a scheme, involving nearby Northfield Academy, leading to an under-13/14 team touring Shetland in February, a trip in which they not only tested their rugby skills but also helped find their sea legs.

The 150th celebrations will involve all sections of the club, not least the highly successful touch games hosted by ‘Shire, while the long-established women’s team and all the under-age teams will also participate in the activities.

“It’s going to be an all action year," said MacLuglash. "In fact, we have already had a Burns Supper, attracting a capacity crowd of 120, to be followed by a major dinner in April. On May 17th, we have a golf tournament involving players from the international game.”

A festival of rugby at Woodside has been scheduled for Saturday 23rd August, at which some weel-kent figures from the national game will link up with  North-East heroes of today and yesteryear.

“It will also be an opportunity to reflect on what has gone on at the club in the last 150 years, such as rugby commentators Bill McLaren and Ian Robertson playing for 'Shire, as did the legendary Ken Scotland, when they were students or working in Aberdeen,” added Farquharson, who is working hard to gather rugby merchandise from the various eras.

“We have come a long way in 150 years, from Murrayfield Finals to glorious away days, or weekends to Orkney. We have even been to the Border country!”

“All in all, it’s a wonderful chance to put the game of rugby on the map, while creating another memory for club members and their friends, plus ensuring we have a future.”

“It is hoped the other clubs in the area will throw their weight behind the various events.”

• If you would like to nominate a club to feature in our 'Breadalbane Finance Community Rugby Story Of The Month' series then please contact contact@theoffsideline.com 
• Each successful entrant will receive a rugby-related reward to the value of £500 – kit, equipment, coaching or any other rugby related investment – as well as having an opportunity to tell their story through an in-depth feature on The Offside Line.

• Launched in 2013, Breadalbane Finance is a commercial finance broker, partnering with business owners who want to borrow money for any purpose. Breadalbane Finance goes to the lender market on the client's behalf to source the right lending product with the right deal that works for the client's goals.
• Built on long-standing trusted relationships – both with clients and their advisors – to date Breadalbane has helped 1,500 businesses secure over £500m of funding all over Scotland in a broad range of industries.
• For more information on how Breadalbane Finance can help your business, contact: Jamie Lindsay on 0131 281 5343 / jamie@breadalbanefinance.co.uk

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The post Breadalbane Finance Community Rugby Story Of The Month … Aberdeenshire appeared first on Scottish Rugby News from The Offside Line.