Moray Rugby Club hope to celebrate centenary year with push for Tennent’s Caledonia North Region league title, special 100-year events and plans to develop clubhouse at Morriston playing fields
Moray Rugby Club are asking the public to help them celebrate what could be a memorable centenary year.
Founded in 1923, the club hope to develop their clubhouse at Elgin’s Morriston playing fields in line with their 100th birthday.
And with their first team currently top of Tennent’s Caledonia North Region Division 2 and heading for promotion, a great year is being anticipated.
Honorary president Graham Stables, who has served Moray for more than 40 years as a player and committee member, is encouraging people to get involved in the celebrations.
“What we are hoping to do is to try and pull as much information as we can from 1923 through to now,” he said.
An entry in the club’s first minute book states: “At the Drill Hall, Elgin on Saturday 3rd March, 1923, a meeting of those interested in rugby football in the county was held and it was resolved to endeavour to establish a club.”
Stables added: “We know the doctors George and John McDonald were well involved with the club. There’s a George Christie of Kellas mentioned here who we think is a relation of one of the guys that was coaching our players.
“In this one book we had all these bits, including our trip to America. But we had floods down at Morriston and we lost a lot of stuff.
“One big element would be to ask people to share their memories of the club with us for our centenary. We are trying to see how we can involve the local community with the whole thing.
“We are hoping to piece a much together as we can for this centenary.”
Moray’s home park at Morriston is owned by a local trust and shared with Elgin Boys Club football group and Elgin Amateur Athletics Club.
The rugby club is hoping to gain permission to develop their clubhouse by building it up higher to protect the facility from possible future flooding from the nearby River Lossie.
Events are also being planned throughout the year including a centenary dinner and merchandising, with the club’s annual red ball aimed at raising money for possible work on the clubhouse.
“One idea is to hold an open day at Morriston for people to come down and see what we do.”
Anyone with photos or items relating to the club which could be of interest for their centenary can email gstables@aol.com.