# Hillfoots RFC

Hillfoots RFC is a Scottish rugby union club based in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire. The club plays its home games at the Public Park in Tillicoultry.
The club runs two senior men's XVs (a 1st XV and an occasional 2nd XV (the Rams)), a senior women's team (the Vixens), and a veterans men's team (the Cast Tups). The club also run youths and junior squads from P1 to U16 age-groups, working closely with the local primary schools and the high school, Alva Academy.
Hillfoots men's 1st XV currently play in the Caledonia League Division 2 Midlands and the Vixens play in Caledonia Midlands/East League 2.

## History

After a public meeting in the Congregational Church Hall in Tillicoultry on Monday 7th December 1970, Hillfoots Rugby Football Club was founded. The club's first game was against an Alloa RFC 4th XV in the public park on 6th March 1971. Hillfoots were victorious by 18 points to 11.
After a season of non-league friendly fixtures in 1971-72, the club entered the Midlands District League the following season. Promotion to National League Division VII was achieved in 1975, to Division VI in 1982 and to Division V in 1984 where the club remained for over a decade.
Three of its most famous players John Manson, Danny Herrington and Bob Cairney formed a front row in the 1990s called the 'Tillicoultry Troglodytes'. All three went on to play for Dundee HSFP.
The club's most sustained period of success began in 2000 when Sandy Penman and Brian Ireland, as captain and player-coach, led the club to successive promotions to National League Division I, then the third tier of Scottish club rugby.
An unsuccessful and short-lived merger with Alloa RFC coincided with a slide back down the divisions as the core of a very successful team began to retire. By 2010, due to relegations and league reconstruction, the club found itself back in the regional divisions. The club was awarded the Scottish Rugby Union's club of the month award in October 2011.
Since the early 2010s, most seasons have been spent in Caledonia Division 1, with brief spells one level lower. The club is in Caledonia Division 2 Midlands for season 2024-25.
On 15th February 2025, Hillfoots defeated Alloa in the final of the Caledonia Midlands Bowl. The game, dubbed 'El Clacksico' was played at Tilly Park. The final score was 24-17. Hillfoots' try scorers were Danny Cockroft and Duncan Arthur. Man of the match Aiden Kerr contributed a drop goal, a penalty and a conversion and Andy Fraser scored two penalties.
As part of the club's 50th anniversary celebrations in 2021, a history of the club was published and made available for sale. The book, entitled 'Fifty Years Together - An Incomplete History of Hillfoots RFC', was authored by Gerry Docherty with assistance from Peter Norman, Alistair Spowage and Gavin Spowage.
The club started a women's team in September 2023, nicknamed the Vixens. After a successful first season of friendly fixtures, the Vixens were accepted into the national league set-up and played in Caledonia Midlands/East League 2 in 2024-25, finishing in mid-table.

## Notable former players
### Scotland internationalists

The following former Hillfoots players have represented Scotland at full international level.
| John Manson | Jamie Bhatti | Adam Ashe |

### North and Midlands

The following former Hillfoots players have represented North and Midlands at provincial level.
* Danny Herrington

### Caledonia Reds players

The following former Hillfoots players have represented Caledonia Reds at professional level.
| Danny Herrington | John Manson |

## Honours

League competition:
* National League Division 3
** Runners-up: 2001-02
* National League Division 4
** Runners-up: 2000-01
* National League Division 5
** Winners: 1999-00
* National League Division 6
** Runners-up: 1983-84
* Midlands District League
** Winners: 1974-75; 1978-79
* Caledonia Division 1
** Runners-up: 2010-11; 2011-12
* Caledonia Division 2 Midlands
** Winners: 2013-14; 2017-18
Cup competition:
* Caledonia Midlands Bowl
** Winners: 2024-25

## Presidents, Club Captains and Coaches

The following table lists all presidents, club captains and men's 1st XV coaches of the club since its first season in 1971/72.
| Season | President | Club Captain | 1st XV Coach(es) | Players' Player of the Year |
| 1971-72 | Rev. Morgan Philips | Billy Lyons | | |
| 1972-73 | John Murray | Fraser Mason | Bob Dewar | |
| 1973-74 | John Murray | Bob Dewar | Bob Dewar | |
| 1974-75 | John Murray | John Perry | Colin Davies | |
| 1975-76 | John A Scott | Tommy Walker | Colin Davies | |
| 1976-77 | John A Scott | Dave Kenyon | Colin Davies | |
| 1977-78 | John A Scott | John Perry | Colin Davies | |
| 1978-79 | John A Scott | Peter Norman | Alan Aaron | Ray Inglis |
| 1979-80 | John A Scott | Peter Norman | Alan Aaron | Duncan Findlay |
| 1980-81 | John A Scott | Alistair Spowage | Tommy Watters | Kevin Manson |
| 1981-82 | Alan Aaron | Kevin Manson | Davy Prentice | Gregor Kennedy |
| 1982-83 | Alan Aaron | Kevin Manson | Dave Kenyon, Bill Kinross & Davy Prentice | Jim Bell |
| 1983-84 | I G Gourlay | Peter Norman | Bill Kinross | Alan Gray |
| 1984-85 | T I Scott | Peter Norman | Bill Kinross | Kevin Manson |
| 1985-86 | T I Scott | Dougie Whitehead | Bill Kinross | Danny Herrington |
| 1986-87 | T I Scott | Dougie Whitehead | Bill Young | Alan Manson |
| 1987-88 | T I Scott | Dougie Whitehead | Bill Young | John Manson & Danny Herrington |
| 1988-89 | Alan Aaron | Kevin Manson | Brian Jamieson & Charlie Forbes | Simon Bowyer |
| 1989-90 | Alan Aaron | Andy Grinly | Dave Kenyon & Bill Young | Alan Manson |
| 1990-91 | Alan Aaron | Alan Manson | Alan Prentice | Mark Carberry |
| 1991-92 | Alan Aaron | Gregor Kennedy | | Mark Carberry |
| 1992-93 | Alan Aaron | Alistair Spowage | Alec McCulloch | A Baker |
| 1993-94 | Alan Aaron | Peter Norman | Alan Prentice | Callum Hamilton |
| 1994-95 | John Pritchard | Peter Norman | Dougie Whitehead | P Horne |
| 1995-96 | Martin Ross | Dougie Whitehead | | Willie McCune |
| 1996-97 | Martin Ross | Jim Bell | Tony Howard | Jim Bell |
| 1997-98 | Peter Norman | Jim Bell | Tony Howard | Callum Hamilton & Mike Wynd |
| 1998-99 | Peter Norman | Davie Stirratt | Brian Ireland | Brian Ireland |
| 1999-00 | Peter Norman | Brian Ireland | Brian Ireland | Mike Wynd |
| 2000-01 | Peter Norman | Brian Ireland | Brian Ireland | Jim Dawson |
| 2001-02 | Peter Norman | Brian Ireland | Brian Ireland | Sandy Penman |
| 2002-03 | Peter Norman | Sandy Penman | Brian Ireland | Mike Slade |
| 2003-04 | Peter Norman | Sandy Penman | Brian Ireland | Iain Nicolson |
| 2004-05 | Peter Norman | Sandy Penman | Brian Ireland | Iain Nicolson |
| 2005-06 | Peter Norman | Sandy Penman | Brian Ireland | Andrew Hamilton |
| 2006-07 | Peter Norman | Mike Slade | Brian Ireland | Mike Slade |
| 2007-08 | Peter Norman | Mike Slade | Brian Ireland | A Pudney |
| 2008-09 | Peter Norman | Andrew Hamilton | Brian Ireland | Calum McGee |
| 2009-10 | Peter Norman | Ian Kelley | Brian Ireland | Gavin Spowage |
| 2010-11 | Peter Norman | Gavin Spowage | Iain Nicolson | Iain Nicolson |
| 2011-12 | Peter Norman | Gavin Spowage | Kevin Manson | Craig Scott |
| 2012-13 | Peter Norman | Gavin Spowage | Iain Nicolson | Jamie Murchie |
| 2013-14 | Peter Norman | Campbell Calder | Iain Nicolson | David McCulloch |
| 2014-15 | Eddie Inglis | Campbell Calder | Stuart McGee | Mark Hunter |
| 2015-16 | Eddie Inglis | Gavin Spowage | Murray McKenzie | Duncan Arthur |
| 2016-17 | Eddie Inglis | Gregor Manson | Rudi Urbach, Ian Hamilton & Ritchie Bruce | Danny Ross |
| 2017-18 | Paddy Sherrard | Iain Nicolson | Ian Hamilton, Ritchie Bruce & Mark Hunter | Greig Anderson |
| 2018-19 | Gavin Spowage | Alan Steele | Mark Hunter | Davie Cree & John McMurdo |
| 2019-20 | Gavin Spowage | Keith Slade | Murray Brown, Brad Bell | Fraser Christie |
| 2020-21 | Peter Norman | Keith Slade | Murray Brown | n/a |
| 2021-22 | Peter Norman | Keith Slade | Murray Brown, Murray McKenzie | Iain Anderson |
| 2022-23 | Paddy Sherrard | Keith Slade | Murray McKenzie | Robert Hodge |
| 2023-24 | Paddy Sherrard | Paul Slade | Graeme Simpson, Kris Illingworth | Ryan Butterworth |
| 2024-25 | Kris Illingworth | Paul Slade | Graeme Simpson, Kris Illingworth, Gregor Manson | |
The Hillfoots Vixens coaching team since its founding in 2023 has been Jordan Usher and Ross McNeil and the captain (or 'Head Vixen') is Christina Swinton.

## The Bobby McGill Cup

Since 2018, Hillfoots RFC and Alloa RFC have competed for the Bobby McGill Cup, donated by the family of the former leader of Clackmannanshire Council. The two rugby clubs have long enjoyed a competitive rivalry although have relatively rarely competed in the same division over the years. Since 2018, the cup has been awarded to the victorious team, as shown in bold in the table below. The cup is not played for in any pre-season or 'friendly' fixtures.
| Date | Competition | Venue | Score |
| 15th September 2018 | Caledonia Division 1 | Earlsfield | Alloa 29-12 Hillfoots |
| 1st December 2018 | Caledonia Division 1 | Tilly Park | Hillfoots 35-15 Alloa |
| 31st August 2019 | Caledonia Division 1 | Tilly Park | Hillfoots 29-13 Alloa |
| 18th January 2020 | Caledonia Division 1 | Earlsfield | Alloa 7-24 Hillfoots |
| 12th October 2024 | Caledonia Division 2 Midlands | Tilly Park | Hillfoots 10-19 Alloa |
| 8th February 2025 | Caledonia Division 2 Midlands | Earlsfield | Alloa 3-16 Hillfoots |
| 15th February 2025 | Caledonia Midlands Bowl Final | Tilly Park | Hillfoots 24-17 Alloa |