The Rifle Volunteers Cup 2011/2012

...has been won by Third Lanark by 3 goals to 2 this afternoon in Edinburgh. This historic encounter was played out in blistering sunshine and was a real cracker, easily the best match in the Capital today - including the Royal Wedding happening nearby! We brought through a hardy bunch of fans old and new in the coach from Cathkin Park and were treated to a warm welcome from our brother club in Edinburgh and a full page spread on the game and John Ferguson in today's Scottish Daily Mail. The game was a proper cup final and we were delighted to bring it back to Glasgow. Well done to all involved and a huge thank you to the players and staff of St Bernards Football Club for staging this inaugural event.See you guys next season at Cathkin for the return!!

2nd XI Training Wednesday Nights!

As the First XI gear up for their historical epic on Saturday at Lethem Park,Edinburgh in the inaugural Rifle Volunteers Cup, the 2nd XI and Under 16s will be training hard at the Queens Park Recreation Park from 7pm tomorrow. We are still on the lookout for players for both teams, the perfect club for fathers and sons to join up with ! We will be training in the middle pitches at the Queens Park end so come along and bring your boots! The season kicks off next month and we have some great days to look forward to in 2011/2012.

An Historic Friendly Challenge Match In July !!!

UPDATE!!!!

Match to be played at Lethem Park,Pollock Pavilion,227 Ferry Road, Edinburgh, EH6 4SP.

The ground is near the old St Bernards ground at Logie Green. Kick off 3.30pm. If you wish to travel through to Edinburgh on the Supporters Bus, Tickets can be purchased from Pat on Tel: 0141 427 9317 ot Matt on Tel: 07834 641258. The match has featured in today's press in both The Scotsman & The Daily Record and our thanks go to Craig for the mention on the Scottish Football League's excellent website.!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ladies & Gentlemen I am delighted to report that the two most famous Rifle Volunteers are set to do battle once again...Edinburgh's St Bernards FC are to play Third Lanark FC on July 30th 2011. Both clubs were born out of the Territorial Army in the 19th Century and have had a long and close relationship throughout the last hundred and twenty years, St Bernards from the 3rd Edinburgh Rifle Volunteers and Thirds from the 3rd Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers. Both were founder league members, Scottish Cup Winners and shared many,many players over the years. One such player was Inside Right, John Ferguson, a popular University student at the time who would still guest for Saints during his 3rds career. Sadly John was to be the first professional footballer killed in the First World War. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. This historic match will be an 'away game' in Edinburgh and will hopefully become an annual Summer event. There will be a Supporters Association bus leaving from Cathkin Park at 1pm on Saturday 3oth July, with a pick up at Finlay's Bar in Cambuslang at 1.30pm. Venue in Edinburgh TBC but will have news soon. So if you are in the East Coast and want to see a bit of history being made, kick off will be at 3.30pm. More details to follow...!

Restoration Latest - July 2011

This month's word is...'weeding'. All the terracing is overgrown again with bright green shoots bursting through the concrete again. Nature wants this place back but am determined to fight on! Have restarted on the East End track and pitch wall, which already needs a second coat and took advantage of the good weather to start clearing up the place again. Still, it's in better shape than this time last year !! There have been more bonfires on the East Terracing and the pitch wall written on again!

Thirds Under 16 side launching soon !!!

We are pleased to announce that Davie Henderson

has joined the Club as Head Of Youth Development and will be taking charge of our new Under 16 side in Season 2011/2012.Davie comes highly recommended and knows the game inside and out and will be ably assisted by his son, Andy. The team will be joining the ERSDA, the East Renfrewshire Soccer development Asociation and we are looking for players in all positions.So if you are under 16 and looking to don the famous Hi Hi jersey, please call Davie on 07909 733592 or email him on: daviethirdlanark@hotmail.com and leave your contact details and preferred playing position. Training and coaching sessions will begin in a couple of weeks so come along and get involved. We have had lots of interest already and we at Third Lanark are really excited at the prospect of the season ahead. The 2nd XI still have vacancies available as well so if you're free on a Sunday, are reaching (or at!!) the veteran stage of your fitba' career and you fancy one more go, email us at : thirdlanarkrv@hotmail.co.uk and w'll get you in for summer training in the next couple of weeks.

Latest Restoration Work - May 2011

A major landmark has been reached. The pitch wall has now been completely cleared of moss and grafitti and painted white once again ! This is only the first coat but has transformed the place from a players point of view. Once again the pitch seems enclosed and somehow tighter. We are now restarting from the East Terracing and painting the second coat. By the end of the summer we will have the walls shimmering bright again ! A full season has left the pitch threadbare in places but we'll be reseeding the bald patches and fencing the goal areas off to give the grass a chance to regrow. Meanwhile we have once again turned our attention back to the West Terrace and more moss and rubbish clearance over the past week or so. We painted another two terrace steps and cleared away a lot of the damaged branches last week's storms left behind. We have had a lot of support recently from the local dog walkers and neighbours training at Cathkin Park and I'd like to thank them for their kind words. They have honestly kept me going when I have become disheartened about the huge task ahead and inspired me to continue doing everything I can to save this old stadium.

Want to Play For Third Lanark ???????

Great News ! We are launching another Adult team next season to play in the Sunday League.

We'll be holding trials and training sessions throughout the summer and would like to hear from anyone of any age who just fancies playing 11-a-side old skool football on grass parks with nets...the REAL game. If you are dying to get the boots back on then get in touch on: thirdlanarkrv@hotmail.co.uk regardless of talent or fitness. Football should be fun, first and foremost and our whole ethos is about encouraging an active and healthy lifestyle and just getting out there and playing !If you fancy coming along we will be playing and training in Glasgow. Don't forget we have a good standard in the First XI and there will always be room for good players to rise through the ranks. So if you would like to wear the famous scarlet shirt of the 3rd Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers Football Club, and play in the shadows of the likes of Harley, Hilley,Gray,Goodfellow,Brownlie,Wilson,Robertson,MacLeod,Mason,Dewar and Tom Maley,now your chance has come...