Cambuslang RFC - Home Becomes Coats Park

Home Becomes Coats Park

In the season 1921-22 and again in 1922-23, Cambuslang were Western District Champions, as a result of which they were offered a match against a West of Scotland Senior Select XV which contained one or two internationalists. This game took place in 1924, and Cambuslang can be justly proud of a 5 - 0 result in their favour. Another honour to the Club at that time was that of being the first team to play at Old Anniesland against the High School F.P.'s which honour they celebrated by being the first team to score on the School's new pitch.

At this stage in the Club's development, at the instigation of the late J. M. Barr Esq., who had been the Club's first captain in 1903, a large and influential committee was formed which, under the guidance and Chairmanship of the late Henry Noble esq., raised sufficient funds to purchase Coats Park outright and erect a clubhouse in the present location and so secure the future of the Club.

In the years following, while not attaining such heights, the Rugby Section continued as a leading team in the West of Scotland, running up to three XV's and at one period, a junior team. The Cricket Section went from strength to strength, and its Saturday afternoon games had become, in the thirties, a social event in the District.

In fact, all through the inter-war period, the Club had developed more and more into an organisation of the young people of the District and was to be found in the lead in many local events.

Its pre-war Saturday evening dances held in the Institute were ever popular, and its annual whist drives and sales of work were looked forward to universally. But these functions were, of course the special territory of the ladies of the Hockey Section, whose results at the end of the season often put other Sections to shame.

The club trained during August 1939 but due to the outbreak of war on 3 September they did not play a game again until 1946/47 when the club had a single XV playing on the public pitches at Nether Pollok.

During the war Coats Park was used by Clyde Paper Mill for storing huge bales of esparto grass. The clubhouse was kept in order by a founder member, Dr Hutchison, who more or less single - handed kept the club afloat.