Giffnock Club History
GIFFNOCK TENNIS CLUB FOUNDED 1895 From humble beginnings
on two ash courts in a Giffnock garden in 1892, Giffnock Recreation Club
evolved into Giffnock Bowling and Tennis Club in 1895, at its present location
in Percy Drive, Giffnock.
A pictorial record of those early days exists in the Club’s Golden
Jubilee Booklet (1945), where the lady tennis players can be seen wearing
their maxi-dresses and the men cut a dashing figure on court with their
straw boater hats. In those early years ‘old’ Giffnock was
one of the most select areas of Glasgow and there was no shortage of funds
for club improvements.
In the 1920s our far-sighted predecessors bought the land where the present
tennis courts are situated. They also built a new clubhouse, which accommodated
the bowlers and tennis players until 1969, when the Tennis Club moved into
a separate clubhouse. Giffnock remained one of the top clubs in the West
of Scotland throughout the ‘forties’, dominated by Tom Boyd,
surely one of our finest players ever. The future seemed bright in the
early ‘fifties’, particularly when John Lillie and Derek Frenz
proved themselves to be among the top juniors in Scotland in 1953-54. Sadly,
however, things began to go wrong by 1955.
One by one, our top players retired or left the area, and the subsequent
decline in membership, to under 80 at one point, was matched only by the
decline in playing standards. The 1st Gents team had the dubious distinction
of being relegated every year for seven years! Throughout the lean years,
however, our Junior Section remained strong and by 1965 there appeared
in the Senior ranks a large group of good tennis players, male and female,
who within two years had virtually replaced their Senior counterparts in
the teams.
As Juniors they had been used to winning (they won the Junior 1st Division
in 1965 and again 1967), and they continued to win. In 1971 Giffnock won
the Clydesdale Cup, our first ever West of Scotland LTA trophy, and then
in 1975 the Men’s 1st Team reached the 1st Division after a 25-year
absence and the Ladies 1st Team gained promotion to the 1st Division after
a 20-year absence. As the standard of play improved, so did the Club spirit,
and successive Committees organised Coffee Mornings, Sponsored Walks, Jumble
Sales, Marathon Tennis Matches (see “The Guinness Book of Records,
1972), and countless Fetes to raise funds to further develop the Club.
In 1969 the Tennis Section took on a new identity when the present clubhouse,
in its original form, was opened.
This was followed by a period of rapid development with the opening of
squash courts in 1974 and an extension to the clubhouse the following year
to provide a lounge bar and improved changing facilities. There have been
many dedicated and influential members of Giffnock, but perhaps one of
the most dedicated and respected members was Rob Jenkins.Not only was he
a President of the Club but he became President of the WSLTA in 1977 and
was subsequently recognised for his outstanding contribution to tennis
by being made an Honorary Life Member of the LTA and of Giffnock Tennis
Club.
It is not every day that four world-class players take to the courts of
Giffnock Tennis Club to play the best of three sets, but the 25 May 1980
was no ordinary day and a crowd of over 700 people were thrilled to watch
British Davis Cup stars David Lloyd and Mark Cox battle against South African
Frew McMillan and his young Australian partner, Brad Drewett. The occasion
was the official opening of our six new all-weather courts with floodlights,
and all four players rose to the occasion.
Understandably all four players were resting themselves for the West of
Scotland Tournament at Newlands that same week, but nevertheless they showed
the brilliance that had taken them to their individual rankings and provided
a great afternoon’s entertainment that was one of the highlights
in the history of Giffnock Tennis Club.
Tennis had been at a peak for some years at this stage and the Gents proved
their superiority by winning the Clydesdale Cup to round off a memorable
year. Another milestone in the Club’s growth came in 1982 when the
former Whitecraigs Hockey Club joined and we became Giffnock Tennis, Squash
and Hockey Club.
The following year, 1983, proved to be one of the most successful tennis
years for the Club with six of the eight teams consolidating their positions
in their Divisions of the West Leagues. Juniors had always been the life-blood
of the Club and a new coaching schedule and a sophisticated ball-machine
proved to be invaluable.
Juniors from three different age groups embarked on a three-stage course,
culminating in a weekly tournament and this proved very popular. Four of
our more promising youngsters were chosen for various different groups
within the WSLTA and joined talented players from other clubs in a winter
coaching programme.
Throughout the 80s the Club continued to flourish with success at all levels
for seniors and juniors. In 1985 our Ladies 1st, 2nd and 3rd teams were
in WSLTA Divisions 1, 2 and 3, the Gents 1st team was second in Division
1, the Gents 2nd team was promoted to Division 3, the Junior 1st team won
Division 1 and the Junior 2nd team was promoted to Division 2. Membership
continued to be strong in all sections and in 1988 the tennis courts were
upgraded to artificial grass courts.
A further extension to the clubhouse followed. As in the past, various
coaches worked very hard to maintain Giffnock’s good reputation until
1990 when we appointed Colin Hanbidge as our first full-time, professional
coach. Colin, or “coach” as he became known, injected a new
sense of direction to our coaching programme and became a firm favourite
with ‘kids’ of all ages. With his own inimitable style, Colin
played an important part in the development of tennis not only in Giffnock
but also on the West of Scotland LTA committee. In 1999 he helped to justify
his own club logo, ‘Best in the West’, when the Gent’s
1st team were Scottish Cup Winners, Clydesdale Cup Winners, retained the
Inter-club Shield, and were the Premier League Champions in the West County
League.
In the same year the Ladies 1st and Gent’s 2nd were both in 1st divisions
as were the Junior Boys 1st and Girls 1st teams. The WSLTA has seen many
of Giffnock’s best players reach a high standard, with some at International
standard and many representing the West of Scotland LTA. We are confident
of the future of tennis at Giffnock because of the commitment of the many
players who return to share their talent and expertise by offering coaching
to all ages.
Giffnock can boast of the only purpose-built Short Tennis Courts in Scotland
where the very young can experience their first taste of tennis and develop
their skills.
All ages and abilities are welcome and members are encouraged to sample
the coaching with teams in mind or simply making an improvement for social
tennis. On a high note we have qualified for the British Initiative Programme
of Performance Tennis - a pioneering scheme requiring high standards of
ability and dedication from both coach and player. With seven men’s
teams, four ladies’, six veteran’s, ___ junior teams and many
social players, we are truly following the LTA’s vision of “ More
players, better players”. Giffnock Tennis, Squash and Hockey Club
is delighted to congratulate the WSLTA on 100 years of service to tennis.
HISTORY OF THE HOCKEY CLUB
The origins of the hockey section go back to 1919 when a group of enthusiasts
formed Whitecraigs Hockey Club. The club had some great league and cup
successes over the years but 1982 the club amalgamated with Giffnock Tennis & Squash
Club and changed its name to Giffnock Giffnock Hockey Club is now one of
the largest clubs in Scotland and is based at Giffnock Tennis, Squash and Hockey
Club, Eastwoodmains Road, Giffnock on the south side of Glasgow. Games
are played at the water-based pitch at Bellahouston, Glasgow, the sand-filled
McTaggert & Meikle Millennium pitch at Mearns Castle High School, Newton
Mearns and the sand-dressed pitch at Williamwood High School, Clarkston.
A ladies section was formed in 1995 and up until the beginning of season
1997/1998, the club consisted of three men’s and a women’s
team. At this time, the ladies club know as Hutcheson’ Hockey Club
amalgamated with Giffnock and this lead to two ladies national league teams
and subsequent promotion for the third team within the West District League.
The season 2001/2002 saw the ladies squads strengthened further by incorporating
Hyndland Hockey Club and with the appointment of double Olympian Rhona
Simpson as player-coach.
Under Rhona’s guidance the ladies have become a major force within
the Scottish hockey scene and were the hosts and Scotland’s representative
in the European Club Championships held at Peffermill Edinburgh in June
2006 Both the ladies and gents sections have grown and developed to the
stage that the Ladies are now fielding 4 XI’s (National League Div
1, National Reserve League, West District League Div 1 and 4) whilst the
Men field five XI’s (National League Div 3, West District Div 1,2,3 & 4)
The Club is very proud of its players who have reached the top of their
game and are representing or have represented Scotland at U18’s,
U21’s, Senior level and as umpires.
The Club also has a long and proud history in providing office bearers
and administrators to Scottish Hockey.
Past Presidents
Club
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