Helensburgh voted club of the month

AFTER royal patronage has come recognition of another kind for Helensburgh after the west coast club was named RBS Club of the Month for September.

Kicking off the new season of monthly awards, the RBS West Regional League Division 2 side collect a £1,000 cash prize as recognition for their development within the youth game, impact in the community and a successful winning streak for both their first and second XV in September. It follows the opening of the new stand at Ardencaple in April by The Princess Royal.

Helensburgh RFC president, Jon Simmons, said: “I see this as a reward for all the hard work that our unpaid volunteers put into the club at all levels and the commitment from the coaches and players in all our teams.

“This year we have a more joined-up approach. From our minis, who have expanded to include P1s for the first time, through our Lomond/Helensburgh joint venture with Lomond School, which offers age-grade rugby to all secondary pupils in the area, and up to our senior teams, who have started the season very well. In addition, police have commended the efforts of the club. They have seen a reduction in tensions between local schools and have attributed this to the pupils playing rugby together.”