Statement from Glasgow Warriors

September 30, 2011

Statement from Glasgow Warriors

Posted by Editor on September 30, 2011 05:13 PM | 3 comments | Print | E-mail author

Glasgow Warriors can confirm that Scotstoun Stadium will be the club’s playing and training base from the start of season 2012/13.

The Warriors’ remaining home RaboDirect PRO12 and Heineken Cup matches in season 2011/12 will be played at Firhill Stadium.

Fulll information on the move to Scotstoun Stadium, together with comment from Scottish Rugby, Glasgow Warriors, Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Life, will be given at a forthcoming briefing.

Glasgow Warriors underline that supporters will play a significant role in the planning of the match-day experience at Scotstoun, and look forward to providing an update on this front in due course.

Glasgow Warriors chief executive Kenny Baillie said: “The move to Scotstoun Stadium represents a fantastic opportunity for Glasgow Warriors and we’re delighted to be able to confirm this news.

“First and foremost, on behalf of Glasgow Warriors and Scottish Rugby, I’d like to thank Partick Thistle for the excellent working relationship we have enjoyed with them since 2007. We look forward to seeing out the rest of this season at Firhill, before progressing to the next exciting chapter in the Glasgow Warriors story.

“It will be a hugely positive step for the club to have a combined training and playing base. It will allow us to foster a real sense of belonging and identity and assist our efforts to further embed ourselves into the local community and become a focal point for rugby in Glasgow and the west of Scotland.

“We look forward to working with supporters and our other stakeholders to drive the process of delivering significant benefit for them all from the move. All steps are being taken to ensure Glasgow Warriors have the best possible playing and supporter facilities at the new venue."

Ian McLauchlan, president of Scottish Rugby, enthused: “This announcement is a tremendous boost for rugby in the west of Scotland, and underlines Scottish Rugby’s commitment to ensuring the continued progress of our professional game.

“Scotstoun Stadium will be a fitting home for Glasgow Warriors and provide a real rugby hub for the city.

“A lot of hard work has gone into bringing about this move, and I’d like to put on record our thanks to Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Life for their willingness and enthusiasm to make it happen.”

The Depute Leader of Glasgow City Council and the Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games, Councillor Archie Graham, said: "This is a hugely exciting time for rugby as we look forward to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

“In recent years the Warriors have firmly established themselves as one of the top sports sides in the country and we are looking forward to welcoming them to their new home at Scotstoun Stadium next season."

No further comment will be made by Glasgow Warriors or Scottish Rugby at this stage.

Posted by ballinj on October 1, 2011 12:39 PM | Reply to this comment

I am sorry but this stinks... At the time we moved the training facilities over there SL went on record to say that the reason that Glasgow would not be playing there was because the area inside the running track was to small to accomodate a rugby pitch.

So what has changed? Have they come up with a solution or is it no longer a consideration? or is it we are being lied too either then or now.

It would also be interesting to hear from others as to whether any fans were consulted about the move?

Or is it once again that the SRU wading in with their size 30 boots and worrying about the consequences afterwards.

Posted by Coruisk on October 1, 2011 01:58 PM | Reply to this comment

It's a great move and would have been made before now but for the intervention of Gordon Mckie. Unfortunately, a number of the rugby features of the design weren't implemented when the SRU pulled the plug on the original set-up eg supporters bar, hospitality, shop, bigger stand etc.

Pitch size isn't an issue - we've played there before. Maybe Sean Lineen was just repeating the party line at that time.

Posted by pauliott on November 10, 2011 12:05 AM | Reply to this comment

By the looks of the pitch it is a good bit away from the stand which will detract from the atmosphere where as at Firhill you are on top of the action being so close to the pitch, size is the pitch bigger or is it to small and we are just to hold our breaths and squeeze onto it. Don't the fans have a say at all ? after all they are the ones paying at the gate !