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For more than seven decades Rugby has been embraced as part of the sports and social culture of
Glasgow/Strathclyde Police Force. The first official records of the club can be found with the Scottish
Rugby Union. These show that Glasgow Police Rugby Club joined the Glasgow District Rugby Union in
season 1936/37. However, as representatives of the Rugby section are noted at being present at
meetings in early 1935, it’s clear that Glasgow Police Rugby Club was formed some time before their
entry into the GDRU. Unfortunately no official records are available to confirm the date or founder
members of the club.
On 7th June 1935 Chief Constable Sir Percy Joseph Sillitoe, K.B.E.D.L., called a meeting of sport sections
within the Glasgow Police Force. Sergeant Stirrat attended as a representative of the rugby section. Sir
Percy proposed co-ordination of all Force sporting bodies and the formation of an association. As a result
the Glasgow Police Athletic Association (GPAA) was born. The GPAA official colours were black, blue and
gold and these colours were used in the rugby club strip (these are the colours you would see if our early
photographs were in colour). However in later photographs the team can be seen wearing an all black
strip and it is interesting to note that in recent years the Strathclyde Police side have reverted to wearing
the same.
During the early years financial records give us a glimpse into the life of the team. In February 1938 the
Ulster Police Rugby team travelled across the water for a match, at an expense to the Glasgow side of
£6.12s.9p. A match against Edinburgh Police cost £5 and the princely sum of 6 shillings was required for
hire of the ground at each home game. At this time the Team, not having a home ground, were forced to
play either at their opponents ground or at xxx.
At a meeting in September 1938 it was reported that a member of the rugby section had, without
permission, formed a 2nd XV and arranged fixtures. A report was submitted to the Chief Constable who
ruled that a 2nd XV would not be formed. An application was also made that year for 6 new strips at a cost
of £6 - the previous ‘outfits’ had been purchased 3 years before and were now in a very bad state. The
application was approved. Sergeant Stirrat, now promoted to Inspector, requested payment of 10/6p to
pay for an x-ray of Constable H.Thomson who was injured whilst playing against Wigtownshire on 1st
October 1938, this cost was also agreed.
Extract from Rugby Annual Report
1938 - The oval sphere has not the popularity one would expect, but what its exponents lack in
numbers, they atone in fervour. This is an enthusiastic section, and a number of enjoyable games
have been played
During March 1939 the section applied for permission to play a match in Belfast against the R.U.C, but the
GPAA committee decided, “that the time was not yet opportune to engage in a match of this kind”.
Extract from Rugby Annual Report
1939 - The members played a number of enjoyable games and when conditions return to normal and
when our own field is in playing order, a greater number of Members will take advantage of the robust
sport offered by this section
In September of 1941 the section applied for permission to amalgamate with Hutchestown Grammar
School Rugby Club. This application was referred back to the section committee but no further references
can be found and obviously the amalgamation never took place. It is ironic to think that had the two clubs
joined together we would now all be part of G.H.A. playing at Braidholm instead of against them.
During the War the rugby section played few matches with one notable exception. A game was played in
1941 in Greenock against the crew of HMS Royal Sovereign who were on Atlantic Convoy duty. The Royal
Sovereign, launched in May 1915, was a Revenge Class battleship of the Royal Navy with a crew of 920.
Displacing 27,500 tons and armed with eight 15 inch guns. She ended her service as part of the Soviet
Navy (renamed Arkhangelsk or Archangel) in 1949.
The rugby section began to play regularly again in 1948. A quick delve into the financial records shows
“36 jerseys, 30 pairs of pants, 2 doz. Pairs hose and 4 balls” being purchased at a cost of £67 and 5
shillings (£1,600 in today’s money).
Extract From Rugby Annual Reports
1948 - Members of the section are again becoming active and it is expected that a team will take to
the field this coming season.
1950 - The rugby section played 23 games, 13 of which were won, 9 were lost and 1 drawn. The
section were honoured by an invitation to the Stirling County Rugby Club’s annual Seven-a-side
sports in which they were narrowly defeated by Perthshire Academicals.
1952 - The season’s play was curtailed owing to injuries sustained, so much so that more than half of
the fixtures had to be cancelled. However ten games were played, four of which were won, five lost
and one drawn.
1953 - In all matches, the team played with great enthusiasm and sportsmanship. A few members
lack knowledge of the finer points of the game and this was instrumental in changing victory into
defeat. However, win, lose or draw, members of the Section are happy as long as they can get on to
the field of play.
1954 - Players showed great enthusiasm and sportsmanship on the field. A few members lack
knowledge of the finer points of the game and this was instrumental in changing victory into defeat.
However, win, lose or draw, members of the Section are happy as long as they can get on to the field
of play. (Does this not sound like the previous years report)
1955 - Weather during the season was very severe, causing twelve games to be cancelled. The
fixture with Edinburgh City Police was renewed, resulting in a victory for Edinburgh by 33 points to nil
1956 - The highlight of last season was the visit to Edinburgh for the annual fixture with that force. The
game resulted in a victory for Edinburgh, forty-six points to six, but the section takes heart from the
fact that they did score six points against such notable opponents. The section was entertained at a
dinner and dance after the game, and this was much enjoyed by all present. The fixture list for the
forthcoming season is rather smaller than previous years, and this is due to the difficulty experienced
in arranging practically all the games to be played on our opponents ground; most clubs like to
arrange their fixtures to take place on their opponents ground on alternate years.
Lochinch Sports Field - In March 1939 a lease had been obtained for 13 acres of land adjacent to
Lochinch Farm, which sat within Pollok Estate on the outskirts of Glasgow. The land was to be used for
sports fields and to house a new pavillion for the GPAA. However, the advent of the Second World War
meant that construction was put on hold. During the War the grounds at Lochinch did not lie idle - uses
included sheep grazing, food production and a lucrative hay crop which brought in the handsome sum of
£45. With the financial impact of the War and focus on rebuilding the damaged areas of Glasgow it was to
be more than 20 years before construction began at Lochinch. The building was finally completed and
officially opened by the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Mrs Jean Roberts, J.P., on the 29th May 1962. The total
cost of the project was in the region of £40,000 (the equivalent of £600k in today’s money).
In the late 1960s an invitation to enter an annual seven-a-side rugby tournament was received from the
English North East Region of the Police Athletics Association. The team accepted and enthusastically
joined in the event for the next few years, enjoying trips to Wakefield, York and Middlesborough and
eventually a full fifteen side toured to Durham. During that time the team also managed to do well in some
of the tounaments, notably being sevens runners-up at Middlesborough 1971 and again at York in 1972.
This really marked the official start of the now infamous ‘Club Tours’.
When leagues were introduced in Scotland in the early 1970s, the club was entered into the Glasgow
District league. Very soon after a number of players were allowed to leave the team in order to join clubs
who were playing at a higher league level. Unfortunately the result of this ‘stripping of talent’ meant the
team had to revert to playing only midweek games. This situation continued for two seasons until
regionalisation of the Scottish Police Forces in 1975.
Glasgow/Strathclyde Police Force. The first official records of the club can be found with the Scottish
Rugby Union. These show that Glasgow Police Rugby Club joined the Glasgow District Rugby Union in
season 1936/37. However, as representatives of the Rugby section are noted at being present at
meetings in early 1935, it’s clear that Glasgow Police Rugby Club was formed some time before their
entry into the GDRU. Unfortunately no official records are available to confirm the date or founder
members of the club.
On 7th June 1935 Chief Constable Sir Percy Joseph Sillitoe, K.B.E.D.L., called a meeting of sport sections
within the Glasgow Police Force. Sergeant Stirrat attended as a representative of the rugby section. Sir
Percy proposed co-ordination of all Force sporting bodies and the formation of an association. As a result
the Glasgow Police Athletic Association (GPAA) was born. The GPAA official colours were black, blue and
gold and these colours were used in the rugby club strip (these are the colours you would see if our early
photographs were in colour). However in later photographs the team can be seen wearing an all black
strip and it is interesting to note that in recent years the Strathclyde Police side have reverted to wearing
the same.
During the early years financial records give us a glimpse into the life of the team. In February 1938 the
Ulster Police Rugby team travelled across the water for a match, at an expense to the Glasgow side of
£6.12s.9p. A match against Edinburgh Police cost £5 and the princely sum of 6 shillings was required for
hire of the ground at each home game. At this time the Team, not having a home ground, were forced to
play either at their opponents ground or at xxx.
At a meeting in September 1938 it was reported that a member of the rugby section had, without
permission, formed a 2nd XV and arranged fixtures. A report was submitted to the Chief Constable who
ruled that a 2nd XV would not be formed. An application was also made that year for 6 new strips at a cost
of £6 - the previous ‘outfits’ had been purchased 3 years before and were now in a very bad state. The
application was approved. Sergeant Stirrat, now promoted to Inspector, requested payment of 10/6p to
pay for an x-ray of Constable H.Thomson who was injured whilst playing against Wigtownshire on 1st
October 1938, this cost was also agreed.
Extract from Rugby Annual Report
1938 - The oval sphere has not the popularity one would expect, but what its exponents lack in
numbers, they atone in fervour. This is an enthusiastic section, and a number of enjoyable games
have been played
During March 1939 the section applied for permission to play a match in Belfast against the R.U.C, but the
GPAA committee decided, “that the time was not yet opportune to engage in a match of this kind”.
Extract from Rugby Annual Report
1939 - The members played a number of enjoyable games and when conditions return to normal and
when our own field is in playing order, a greater number of Members will take advantage of the robust
sport offered by this section
In September of 1941 the section applied for permission to amalgamate with Hutchestown Grammar
School Rugby Club. This application was referred back to the section committee but no further references
can be found and obviously the amalgamation never took place. It is ironic to think that had the two clubs
joined together we would now all be part of G.H.A. playing at Braidholm instead of against them.
During the War the rugby section played few matches with one notable exception. A game was played in
1941 in Greenock against the crew of HMS Royal Sovereign who were on Atlantic Convoy duty. The Royal
Sovereign, launched in May 1915, was a Revenge Class battleship of the Royal Navy with a crew of 920.
Displacing 27,500 tons and armed with eight 15 inch guns. She ended her service as part of the Soviet
Navy (renamed Arkhangelsk or Archangel) in 1949.
The rugby section began to play regularly again in 1948. A quick delve into the financial records shows
“36 jerseys, 30 pairs of pants, 2 doz. Pairs hose and 4 balls” being purchased at a cost of £67 and 5
shillings (£1,600 in today’s money).
Extract From Rugby Annual Reports
1948 - Members of the section are again becoming active and it is expected that a team will take to
the field this coming season.
1950 - The rugby section played 23 games, 13 of which were won, 9 were lost and 1 drawn. The
section were honoured by an invitation to the Stirling County Rugby Club’s annual Seven-a-side
sports in which they were narrowly defeated by Perthshire Academicals.
1952 - The season’s play was curtailed owing to injuries sustained, so much so that more than half of
the fixtures had to be cancelled. However ten games were played, four of which were won, five lost
and one drawn.
1953 - In all matches, the team played with great enthusiasm and sportsmanship. A few members
lack knowledge of the finer points of the game and this was instrumental in changing victory into
defeat. However, win, lose or draw, members of the Section are happy as long as they can get on to
the field of play.
1954 - Players showed great enthusiasm and sportsmanship on the field. A few members lack
knowledge of the finer points of the game and this was instrumental in changing victory into defeat.
However, win, lose or draw, members of the Section are happy as long as they can get on to the field
of play. (Does this not sound like the previous years report)
1955 - Weather during the season was very severe, causing twelve games to be cancelled. The
fixture with Edinburgh City Police was renewed, resulting in a victory for Edinburgh by 33 points to nil
1956 - The highlight of last season was the visit to Edinburgh for the annual fixture with that force. The
game resulted in a victory for Edinburgh, forty-six points to six, but the section takes heart from the
fact that they did score six points against such notable opponents. The section was entertained at a
dinner and dance after the game, and this was much enjoyed by all present. The fixture list for the
forthcoming season is rather smaller than previous years, and this is due to the difficulty experienced
in arranging practically all the games to be played on our opponents ground; most clubs like to
arrange their fixtures to take place on their opponents ground on alternate years.
Lochinch Sports Field - In March 1939 a lease had been obtained for 13 acres of land adjacent to
Lochinch Farm, which sat within Pollok Estate on the outskirts of Glasgow. The land was to be used for
sports fields and to house a new pavillion for the GPAA. However, the advent of the Second World War
meant that construction was put on hold. During the War the grounds at Lochinch did not lie idle - uses
included sheep grazing, food production and a lucrative hay crop which brought in the handsome sum of
£45. With the financial impact of the War and focus on rebuilding the damaged areas of Glasgow it was to
be more than 20 years before construction began at Lochinch. The building was finally completed and
officially opened by the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Mrs Jean Roberts, J.P., on the 29th May 1962. The total
cost of the project was in the region of £40,000 (the equivalent of £600k in today’s money).
In the late 1960s an invitation to enter an annual seven-a-side rugby tournament was received from the
English North East Region of the Police Athletics Association. The team accepted and enthusastically
joined in the event for the next few years, enjoying trips to Wakefield, York and Middlesborough and
eventually a full fifteen side toured to Durham. During that time the team also managed to do well in some
of the tounaments, notably being sevens runners-up at Middlesborough 1971 and again at York in 1972.
This really marked the official start of the now infamous ‘Club Tours’.
When leagues were introduced in Scotland in the early 1970s, the club was entered into the Glasgow
District league. Very soon after a number of players were allowed to leave the team in order to join clubs
who were playing at a higher league level. Unfortunately the result of this ‘stripping of talent’ meant the
team had to revert to playing only midweek games. This situation continued for two seasons until
regionalisation of the Scottish Police Forces in 1975.
