Tennent’s Volunteer and Club of the Month – April

Scottish Rugby’s annual Club Awards evening will take place on 31 May at the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh to celebrate a season of club rugby throughout the country.

The Tennent’s Club of the Month Award celebrates on-pitch performance, discipline and rugby development. A club does not have to be the best in all three areas, but should show a successful balance, with potential for long-term growth.

Each Club of the Month winner receive £1,000 worth of Tennent’s portfolio for their clubhouse and a table for ten to attend the Scottish Rugby end of season Club Awards.

Tennent’s Club of the Month April 2019 – Greenock Wanderers

More celebrations were in order this month as Greenock Wanderers were awarded April’s Tennent’s Club of the Month, while celebrating their 145th Season.

The club made their way to BT Murrayfield as their men and women’s sides qualified for Silver Saturday on April 27 in the Women’s Bowl and Men’s Shield. Their men’s XV played their part in a thrilling final but missed out on silverware to Berwick in extra time.

However, the women’s team overcame Livingston with a strong performance to win the Bowl 12-72 on the back-pitches at the national stadium to avenge their defeat in the final last year.

The club run five mini teams and four youth teams, along with the three senior sides (two men and a women’s XV).

They have impressed off the field, too. Their ladies section held a successful lunch during April which raised over £700 for local charities and worthwhile causes.

The club have a full time Rugby Development Officer and the club and have seen their academy system, which is reaching its fourth year, bearing fruit.

Andy Graham, a product of that system, made the step up from the U18s to come on as a replacement prop for his 1st XV debut against Allan Glens in a feisty atmosphere, gathering widespread acclaim.

On the announcement of the award John Black of Greenock Wanderers stated, “I am extremely proud to be President of this fantastic club which has been a huge part of my life for nearly half a century.

“Greenock Wanderers has had its ups and downs over the years, but I’m delighted to see this recent surge in its fortunes. I am indebted to the countless volunteers who give up so much time to ensure the teams – across the club – are able to perform on the day and their reward is our reward.”

Tennent’s Volunteer of the Month April – John Low (Stewartry)

Stewartry’s John “Ludo” Low has collected the Tennent’s Volunteer of the Month Award for his hard work in numerous roles at the club as reporter, handyman, cleaner, groundkeeper, record keeper, and number one supporter.

He has been an ever-present member around the club, quite literally! John was present at the founding meeting in 1970, before becoming President serving the club 1989 till 2005.

He was President when the club built the new clubhouse and moved their pitches at Greenlaw, where they are to this day. He was site foreman when the clubhouse was being built by the club’s members, making sure the job was done right.

John can be found at the club first thing on a Monday morning hoovering up, emptying bins, sweeping changing rooms, cleaning showers after the weekend games and training.

Tuesday’s for him are usually spent phoning round and collecting match reports quotes for the local press while Wednesdays are “repair” days.

Anything broken or needed to be looked at Ludo is the man with the tools for the jobs. Sanding down the doors after they have swollen and jammed, replacing broken light bulbs or just cleaning the toilets.

Thursdays he has a day off unless something needs his attention, but before long Friday comes around and he’s setting up the clubhouse for all the pre-match functions whilst pulling together the match day programme.

Saturday he is pitchside with his notebook marking down scorers, times and big events that happened so he can write his match report for the following week.

Sundays he is pitchside once again, watching the youth sides play and taking more notes in case he needs to write another match report…

John has also been instrumental in preparation for the clubs 50th anniversary going back through his records to find names of every player to have played in Stewartry’s 1st XV.

Bill Tyre current President at Stewartry said, “John Low is a club stalwart. The club would never have been able to function without him. He’s the first man there and last man away for all our events and matches.

“The club will forever be in his debt for his efforts since the club was formed to present day. We also want to thank his wife and family for letting the club borrow his time and efforts all these years.”

Tennent’s Try of the Month April 2019

It was a double scoop for Greenock Wanderers this month with Scott Bellow’s score during Silver Saturday, the try came from sweeping move before Bell showed good pace and presence of mind to get himself over the line, to collect April’s Tennent’s Try of the Month.

Tickets for the 2019 Club Awards are still available and can be purchased HERE