Published: Thursday, 22nd July, 2010 9:21am

Club to have a ball celebrating centenary

by Bryan Copland

Comments (0) | Print | Email

HADDINGTON Rugby Football Club is to celebrate its centenary year in style - starting with a family fun day on August 14.

A series of events - ranging from a centenary dinner to one-off matches against the likes of a Scotland select - are being arranged for the coming season, as the Mill Wynd club marks 100 years in the town.

And it is hoped that a commemorative plaque can be placed in the town centre, near to M & Co on Court Street, where the founding meeting of the club took place. Talks are taking place with East Lothian Council on the matter.

Kicking things off is the August 14 fun day at Neilson Park, with an inter-club touch tournament for secondary school pupils, and a mini-tournament for primary one to seven pupils.

Also on offer will be a wheel of fortune, a space hopper race and a number of stalls - including raffle - with visitors in with a chance of winning a car in the main draw. A barbecue and refreshments will fuel the day.

On September 4, the club hosts Dumfries in its first home league match of the season, when an over-35s' exhibition match between Haddington and a Scotland select side is also planned.

Former Haddington favourite Grant McKelvey is gathering former star players and internationals to compete in the event.

Other events in an action-packed season is a centenary dinner, pencilled in for February 11, 2011 - a few days before the club's 100th anniversary on February 16.

Also taking place is an end-of-season centenary ball, and a match against Scottish invitation side, the Co-optimists.

Club president Andrew Cunningham told the Courier: "We're trying to arrange one event per month.

"It's a massive year for the club and we are all looking forward to it. We've had a centenary committee that's been on the go for the best part of a year, possibly more.

"There has been a fair amount of work gone into that, I'm pleased to say, and hopefully that hard work will pay off."

The club is appealing for anyone - players and non-players - to help out at the family fun day, including with donations of raffle prizes.

Anyone wishing to help can contact Andrew on 07725 768359. Details of all events will be confirmed before the season starts next month.