Rugby club’s 40th birthday

Jan 29 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

MORE than 100 current and former stars descended on Almond Park last weekend as Livingston Rugby club celebrated its 40th anniversary in style.

There were a number of characters on the day and vice-president of rugby Donald Naysmith gave a very moving and personal speech about what the club has meant to him since he joined as a 15-year-old boy.

Donald has been captain and president of the club and is now the premier three representative for the SRU.

Amongst those who travelled to West Lothian for the celebrations were Alan Barbero who now lives in London and Kenny Askins who calls Manchester home.

But the duo were thrilled to get the chance to return to their old rugby haunt to catch up with dear friends and former team-mates.

On the field, the good spirit didn’t transfer across as the first XV were unable to retain their early 10-0 lead against their visitors from Ellon finally losing out 10-27.

But the second XV performed better as they defeated Stewart Melville 33-23 in a rather more free-flowing exhibition of running rugby with young Donald Gillies putting in another fine performance.