1904
Founded, in 1904/05 Gordonian Rugby Football Club has seen many changes in its constitution and fortunes over the last 120 years but has a proud history and standing in the Scottish game. The first fifty years of Gordonian rugby saw the establishment of a solid and vibrant club, the next seventy years were to see the club experience highs and lows as the game was structured and restructured at National Level and as the Club’s own fortunes waxed and waned
60s & 70s
Initially formed as a Club solely for former pupils of Robert Gordon’s College, the Club fully opened its doors in the early 1970s to welcome rugby players of all abilities and backgrounds and is proud of the extended community it serves. Throughout the late 50s and 60’s the club constantly improved its fixture list and played an active role in the development of the game in the Northeast of Scotland. The solid player base and the management structure of the 1960s took the club into the 1970s in a strong position. Having established itself as a force in the 1960s, Gordonians saw many changes in the 1970s with the introduction of National Leagues in season 1973/74 and the club going “open” in 1974/75 when it was able to welcome many new, talented, and committed players.
Gordonians started life in Division III of the new National League system in season 1973/74 and immediately won promotion to Division II. The club would see the gradual introduction of a more professional and committed approach to training and the beginning of the occasional end of season tours for the various teams to the Northeast of England, the West Coast of Scotland. However, the climb from Division II to I took a further five years to achieve but in the interim the Club had been fortunate to retain a consistent pool of players with the 2nd and 3rd fifteens establishing themselves as formidable sides in the Midland League and Aberdeen District League respectively. Promotion to Division I was deservedly achieved in season 1979/80.
80s & 90s
Season 1980/1981 proved to be one of the Club’s most successful, with the side finishing sixth in the best league in Scotland. This level of performance however, for several reasons (retirement of key players, others moving away from the area, lack of depth in key positions, etc) could not be maintained and the Club was relegated to National II for season 1983/84. Until the turn of the century the Club’s fortunes, in terms of league standing, alternated between National II and III and, following league restructuring from Premier IV to Premier III. However, the Club continued to maintain its overall competitive standing in Scottish Rugby being able to regularly field three sides every week.
Season 1998/1999 saw a 5th place finish in Division III and a place in the Shield Final at Murrayfield, losing narrowly to Jedforest. At this time, the College and the Club also moved from their original playing fields at Seafield, Seafield Road, to new state of the art playing fields at Countesswells, Countesswells Road, Aberdeen. During this time the World Game became professional, which added a different dimension with the need for full time coaches, shirt sponsors, attraction of overseas talent, etc. On reflection, the Club perhaps didn’t appreciate the need to change accordingly. In addition, our standing as the highest placed national league team in the Northeast slipped, which meant that our ability to attract and retain new and talented players waned.
2000s
A difficult season in 1999/2000 took us into the new millennium which brought hard times for Gordonians with the team slipping down the leagues, from Division III of the Scottish Premier Leagues to National II in successive seasons. This reverse in fortunes was directly linked to reduced player numbers. The Club had been unable to rely on the College to supply the backbone of the team, as has been the case in the past. In the Club’s 99th year, the difficult decision to resign from the National Leagues and re-apply to play in the North District Leagues was taken. This was done to ensure the survival of Gordonians in the short term and allow the rebuilding of the Club on a more solid foundation. The wisdom of that decision was seen when the Club won the North District League in 2005- 06. Two consecutive promotions saw Gordonians climb back into the National Leagues in 2008-09. Since then it has been a series of successes, pitted with a couple of backward steps, with the Club finishing in fifth position in National League Division II, at the end of Season 2023-24.
A significant contribution to the Club’s continued rise in fortunes, has been the drive to continue training, as much as could be allowed, during the Covid Pandemic; the improvement in player strength and depth resulting in the Club 2nd XV winning their league in Season 2022/23; the re-establishing of connections with Robert Gordon’s College ensuring a steady influx of talent to the Club; the establishment of a Mini Rugby Section (the Gordonian Pelicans), which has grown successfully over the last few years and currently hosts children from P1-P7; establishing solid links with the University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University, which has helped in attracting young talent to the Club; and linking where possible with the Caledonia Academy in hosting young and future talent. In addition, the rise back to being the highest placed National League Club in the Northeast of Scotland has also contributed to our ability to thrive. Additionally, the rise of Ladies Rugby in Scotland has seen a healthy number of girls attending the Pelicans Rugby sessions. Hence flagging the need to establish a Ladies Rugby Section going forward.
The Club also has a proud tradition of developing players to play at higher levels, with many players going on to play representative rugby at District level, National U18, U19, U20 and U21 levels and at “B”, “A” and full international honours for Scotland, the Barbarians and British and Irish Lions.
