Since the official opening of the Club’s redeveloped grounds and refurbished clubhouse is the occasion for this brief history, it is of course appropriate that something should be said about its evolution.

For many years the Club had hoped to extend, rebuild or otherwise improve the Clubhouse facilities. But as is often the case, the funds which were accumulated from time to time were raided to keep the Club going, often to repair the fabric of the clubhouse.

In February 1994, a small sub-committee was set up at what turned to be a propitious time to carry this forward.

The Foundation for Sport and the Arts was, at that time, a major potential source of funding.
In addition, the National Lottery was coming on stream.

The Club was fortunate that it received approval of a major grant from the Foundation before it was substantially affected by competition from the Lottery, following which it significantly reduced the level of grants made.

Due to its foresight, the Club was one of the first organisations to apply for funding from the Sports Lottery Fund administered by the then Scottish Sports Council.

There were subsequently some difficulties over the facilities to be constructed. However, the whole package was finally put in place and work began, with the first phase being the grounds. Unfortunately, this coincided with the wettest continuous spell of summer weather for many decades, and it took the best part of two years to complete this phase.

This did, of course, take us only halfway to our objective. It also left the finances in a pretty parlous state – not in debt but without the extra funds which were needed to match the grants offered by the various funding bodies if the second phase was to proceed.

Suffice to say that, with an enormous amount of effort in many directions, the match funding was finally accumulated. In particular, the Club has much cause to be grateful to Glasgow City Council for its encouragement and assistance throughout this period, a time when it looked as though the second phase might have to be abandoned.

It did however all come together – and although a number of significant items remain to be completed, the clubhouse is one of which the Club, and in particular those who efforts went towards achieving the excellent outcome, are justly proud.

The Club is delighted that Allan Stewart, MSP, Depute Minister for Sport and Culture, has kindly agreed to perform the official opening ceremony.