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.[1]
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 2013.
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.[2]
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.
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.[4] 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 captain of the victorious team, as summarised in the table below. The cup is not played for in any pre-season 'friendly' fixtures.
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