a day ago
Special Bannockburn rugby fundraiser aims to spread message of inclusivity
The match between the local women's team and an Edinburgh opponent will raise money for Stirling Pride as well as promoting the role of sport and equality.
Bannockburn Rugby Club will host an extra special match on Sunday with the aim of spreading the message of inclusivity in sport and raising money for Stirling's Pride celebrations.
The match will take place between local side Bannockburn Valkyries and the Thebans from Edinburgh, with a day of live entertainment and vendors also in place to make it a day to remember for those in attendance.
The occasion came about after members of the rugby club helped with the setting up and take down of the inaugral Pride celebration in the city last year - with a desire to do more this time around.
Second-row player Hilary Ball - who has been with the Valkyries for around two-and-a-half years - has been one of those working hard in the background to make Sunday's match happen.
She told the Observer: 'We wanted to do something more this time around to put ourselves on the map as a welcoming community.
'We wanted to make our message of inclusivity loud and clear, as it's one of our core values that anyone in Stirling and the surrounding area who is looking for a way to get fit, or a way to make friends, should see us as a community who welcome anyone and everyone.
'Rugby is the perfect sport for that because it can welcome 'every body' as well as everybody.
'Alongside being a club player for our teams, we also offer 'social memberships' which give people the chance to just come along, enjoy the atmosphere and get fit along the way.
'We have teams for all ages, and also we're home to the Forth Valley Clan team which is focused on opening doors for all, of any ability especially ambulant disabilities.
'Our men's and women's teams are transgender inclusive so there's a seat and a place on the pitch for everyone.'
Stirling Pride will receive all money made from the event and since getting in touch with the charity, the team of volunteers at Bannockburn RFC have been working around their own jobs to pull things together.
But during moments where they thought it wouldn't be possible, a nasty message of division offered a stark reminder of the need for the weekend's match - and the importance of the core message behind it.
'A player for the Valkyries team, Anna Crisp, who was one of the first players to join the Valkyries when formed almost five years ago, has been a real catalyst for us getting organised and making this event happen', Hilary continued.
'She couldn't do it alone so the club pulled together a committee to make it a reality, squeezing whatever spare time we each had, to volunteer our time to make this happen.
'One of the players who is involved with the club received a really malicious and cruel homophobic attack related to her place in the women's team and I think that made us even more determined not to pull things and get this over the line.
'Everyone was making free time, calling in favours from businesses and people they knew to make it happen.'
The schedule gets underway at the club from 12pm, with the match ticking off at 2pm.
A banner will also be available to be decorated for the Pride celebrations and festivities will continue through the night, including a karaoke organised after the boots have been cleaned and the final whistle sounded.
Hilary added: 'The Thebans are a fantastic team who are in our own league and they are a club who exemplify the message of rugby being for everyone and anyone.
'We didn't just want this to be in our own bubble here at Bannockburn but to echo across the country, so this game gives us a chance to celebrate an important message, make money for a great cause - and do what we do best on the pitch.'
