Porty plan a four day jamboree to mark rugby centenary

Portobello rugby club have four consecutive days of celebration lined up for later this month to bring down the curtain on their centenary season.

Festivities kick off on Thursday 13 June when the club’s oldest ex player, Norrie Wilson, will cut a commemorative ribbon at the Cavalry Park clubhouse while the weekly summer “Tartan Touch” event continues outside.

The following day sees a golf outing arranged while Portobello Town Hall has been hired for the Saturday night when members and friends – about 275 have so far signed up – are asked to turn up in club colours (blue and gold) for an event featuring a live band.

Sunday has a family day organised with an awards ceremony for the junior section.

Former captain Alan Freeman is returning from Canada for the centenary along with ex-players Mike Gorman and Jamie Mistry while others are travelling from the south of England, according to committee member, Darren Crowther.

The season just ended has season Portobello preserve their place in Scottish Rugby’s East First Division and they will be hoping it is a springboard to emulate spectacular feats in the late 1970’s-‘80’s when they came within a single last day victory over Edinburgh Accies to journey all the way through to the top tier in successive seasons.

Part of that success was due to a raft of players provided by an outstanding school team under the charge of Art teacher Alasdair Cuthbertson which included a string of Scotland Schools internationalists.

Along the way Portobello became a formidable force in seven-a-side rugby winning multiple tournaments while another red letter day in the club’s history was appearing at Murrayfield in the 2008 National Plate Final.