A nostalgic look back at sporting activities in Earlston from the early 1900's.
RUGBY
Earlston Rugby Club Club is thought to have been formed in the 1870s by two Yorkshiremen
who were installing machinery in the local woollen mill.One of their first games was against Kelso in 1876,
the result being a draw. On 7 March 1879, Earlston played Kelso in one of the first matches staged under electric floodlights. The Club also played in the first Melrose Sevens
in 1883.
In the early years the Club's pitch was located at the
Georgefield Road close to where the school pitches are today. In 1921
the present pitch at the Haugh was leased from A. Brownlie, Timber
Merchants. Two years later the first Clubhouse was erected.
During the Second World War, the rugby pitch and clubhouse were requisitioned by the military. One third of the pitch was dug out and concrete laid to make a "hull down" park for the tanks of the Polish Division stationed in the area, preparing for D. Day.
In 1968 the clubhouse was extended with further major work carried out in 1988.
Earlston Rugby Team, 1911-1912
Earlston Rugby Team, 1960
BOWLING
Earlston Bowling Club - but can anyone help date this photograph?
[UPDATE - We were pleased to receive the following information from a reader:
I would say the photograph dates from the mid 1930's. This was Mr & Mrs Stafford's golden wedding - they lived
at The Terrace on the High Street. The event was held in the
Girls Club Building on Melrose Road, where the filling station forecourt is now. The Club was used for many social occasions and I
see The Rev Peter Wylie (Ercildoune Church Minster) and Mrs Wylie and I
recognize quite a few others].
Earlston Bowling Club Social, 1975
CRICKET
Earlston Rhymers Cricket Club, 1908
HARRIERS
FOOTBALL
Earlston Rhymers, 1973
GOLF
Earlston Golf Club was founded in August 1906, making it one of the oldest in
the country. The course was designed by Willie Park of
Musselburgh on land owned by Lord Binning . The nine-hole course was
situated in an area known locally as
“Caldies Hill” on high ground with sandy soil. At the time of its
opening, it was stated that "there were some rough and stony parts but
the course was gradually improving".
First Earlston Golf Club Gymkhana in 1908
The Course was closed during the First World War and was ploughed up to plant crops for food to aid the war effort. Play was further suspended during the duration of the Second World War. Afterwards, however, the Club, due to lack of funds, could not afford to maintain the course. It was subsequently used as a motorcycle scrambling circuit. There
were hopes that the golf course could be resurrected but
unfortunately this never materialized.
But Earlston Golf Club survived and continued to have outings and competitions to various other courses in the
country. In 2000, 91 years after its start, it launched a new initiative to create the first golf course on the moon! Read more HERE.
SCRAMBLING AT HUNTSHAW
CURLING
The story of curling in Earlston or as it was then known, Erciltoun, began before 1756. A century later reports of curling in the village appeared in the local press, with the first pond at Georgefield. In 1907 the Club built an artificial three rink pond “to cost
£100 or thereabout, with a house for the storage of stones, etc in
addition” on land granted by Lord Binning. With Haymarket Ice Rink, Edinburgh opening in 1912,
Earlston curlers started indoor curling for the first time. In 1964 the Border Ice Rink at Kelso was launched and this has been the venue for the club to the present day.
Members of the Earlston Curling Club playing outdoors at Lauder, December 1995.
And finally - SPECTATING
1953 Sports at the Haugh.
Thank you to everyone who has donated or loaned old photographs for scanning.
Contact us on auldearlston@aol.com
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