| The Club began, to the best of
my knowledge, in the early 1980s. The local Bank manager (and
in those days Gifford still had a bank) got together with
a few of us enthusiasts and with the support of the Goblin
Ha' Hotel the Gifford Mini Goblins was formed.
In the next few years the Club developed with financial
support from the Gifford Fuerars and a variety of characters
helped out with the coaching and administration of the club.
A set of blue shirts, shorts and socks was bought with
the money raised form a sponsored six mile three-legged
race - typical of the spirit of the club. In the mid-nineties
we organised a competition to design our own strip and after
much deliberation came up with the quite distinctive 'Goblin
shirt'.
The club has now a playing strength of around 50 boys and
girls and a squad of 10 qualified coaches. We have tremendous
support from the SRU through the accreditation scheme but
the major contribution comes from our enthusiastic parental
support.
We try to play one match every month and the emphasis is
on giving the young players the basic skills of the game
while understanding that it is to be played for fun and
enjoyment.
We take a squad of around 20 to every home international
and have always tried to keep the player coach ratio as
low as possible which is just as important for the training
sessions as it is for the trips to Murrayfield. The fun
the coaches have could be summarised by a trip to the Scotland
v Wales game a few years ago when a streaker had interrupted
the game. The conversation on the way home went something
like this.
1st Boy - Did you see the naked man?
2nd Boy - Yes, he was Welsh.
1st boy - No he wasn't, he was Scottish.
2nd Boy - No, he was Welsh.
1st Boy - He was Scottish, he was wearing a sporran.
2nd Boy - He will be in the jail now with no clothes on.
1st boy - yes, they will have a sign on the door saying
"married women must not look"!
The club has a diverse fixture list including local teams
and one as far a field as Dundee and we also have an annual
parents game (a very dangerous encounter). A dinner is planned
for this year and in keeping with the modern trend, we have,
as you see, developed our own web site.
In conclusion, we have a unique facility in Gifford and
we treasure the firm belief that rugby is a fabulous game
to play and the more fun and enthusiasm you put into it
the more you will continue to get out of it.
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