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The Early
Years 1885 - 1900
In 1870 Daniel Stewart's Hospital became a
day school, officially known as Daniel Stewart's Institution
until 1888. At the time, no organised recreational actvities
were included in the curriculum and rugby was merely one
of the games played in the playground. However, in1872 a
school team was organised and captained by James Gibb who
challenged George Watson's College to a match. This was
played in the playground and resulted in a win for Stewart's
by a dropped goal.
( click for larger picture)
The first recorded match that Former pupils
played was against Watson's in 1875. However, there were
difficulties raising teams and five schoolboys were brought
in to make up the XX's. It was not until 1877 that teams
were reduced to fifteen a side and for many years it was
common for schoolboys to be included in sides.
( click for larger picture)
Most school leavers joined the well established
St. George club or the Warrender club that was formed largely
by Stewart's FP's. In 1885 the FP members of St.George,
Warrender and Roseneth formed Stewart's College FP Football
Club. AA Gibb was appointed first captain.
The club colours adopted were an Oxford blue
jersey with red diagonal sash and white shorts.
Click the picture to
see the colours of the shirt
In 1887 the club was elected as full members
of the Scottish Rugby Union.
Ironically, the club and school played on
fields in Ravelston where Mary Erskine School is now situated
but in 1893-4 the club and the school moved to Inverleith.
This coincided with the club colours being changed to the
more familiar red, black and yellow. These developments
led to a great prosperity in the club and significant success
on the pitch.
The season 1896-97 proved to be the most successful
so far due to a good pack of forwards. A keen rivalry had
already developed with Heriot's FP and it resulted in a
memorable victory 18-0. Indeed, this Stewart's team had
considerable influence over who won the championship when
as a press report said 'Stewart's FP staggered humanity'
by defeating Hawick who were contenders for the title. G
R Turner, full back was given recognition for his fine back
play with an International trial.
J G Scobie had the unique record of playing
in every game for seven years during this period. H Pringle,
an Inter-city player, emigrated to South Africa in 1903
and joined the Durban Rugby Club which he captained for
two years. He was selected for the Springbok team to tour
Britain in 1906 but he suffered an injury and he was unable
to play - otherwise he might well have become the club's
first internationalist!
Before
the war 1901 - 1914
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