RUGBY: HOME RUN CONTINUES FOR EK
Dedicated Strathaven player Colin Dalgarno has been named the September BT volunteer of the month for his tireless work in upgrading the club’s facilities.
The 30-year-old has been a player with Strathaven since he was just 7 years old and invested 200 hours of his time in 2016 alone, overseeing the installation of new 3G and grass pitches.
Plans for the new pitches began in 2012 and Colin has been involved in budgeting and managing the project between playing for the first XV and his full-time job.
The club helped raise £670,000 to upgrade the playing surface, working in partnership with the town’s football team Strathaven Dynamo as part of W3ST (Whiteshawgate 3G Sports Trust) to ensure both clubs can play all year round.
Colin, a senior quantity surveyor by trade, was instrumental in ensuring the project came in under budget, enabling them to add extra facilities and equipment to the investment.
He said:“Strathaven RFC has been a huge part of my life and in my 23 years membership I’ve been vice-president, vice-captain and played in every age group.
“The club and sport have given me so much in life and it is amazing to be able to give back, not only to Scottish rugby but to the entire community.
“Atanygivenpointyoucanseethe3G beingenjoyedbylocalkidsmwhichis incredibleforthecommunityasawhole.
“Now I’m just looking forward to seeing Strathaven RFC go from strength to strength and continue to develop the next generations of rugby players on our world-class facility.”
Colin’s work on the pitch has had a hugely positive effect for the club, which has been able to field a second XV for the first time in a number of years and currently has a team at every age group from P3 upwards.
The work has also brought the club and the rest of the town closer together as the local school and other clubs receive free access to the facilities.
Club president Garry Tough said: “Colin has been instrumental in making the vision of a superb all-weather surface sited at the club a reality.
“His diligence, determination and expertise proved invaluable in project managing all aspects of the build on the club’s behalf.“
Every winner of volunteer of the month is invited to BT Murrayfield with nine friends to attend the annual Scottish Rugby Club Awards dinner. At the dinner each of the winners will be in with a chance to win the volunteer of the season prize pf a £1000 grant for their club – announced on the night.