Formation

If any one person can be singled out for mention as the driving force behind the setting up of this club, then it must be Jack Nixon.

Jack was the Youth Officer of the West Lothian County Council in the 1960s, and among his responsibilities  was the assistance he could offer in setting up clubs and organisations for the newcomers to Livingston.  Fortunately for us, being a lad hailing from Langholm, rugby was his own sport. 

At this time, 1968, there was a Bathgate rugby club that had to play its home games in Airdrie. Some of the members of this club saw Jack`s newspaper appeal to those interested in setting up a Livingston club.  Among those who attended were Alwyn O`Neill and Jim Irvine.

Included in the gathered group were Jim Sandilands, a civil engineer, and George Smith, assistant legal secretary, both employed by the Livingston Development Corporation.

Enough members of Bathgate were present to decide on the wind-up of their club and to come into the fold of the new one, Livingston and District R.F.C.

The name was not chosen lightly, for it was Alwyn O`Neill who insisted that it was a condition that must be met before the Bathgate lads joined.  He felt that the `District` safeguarded future right of membership to those residing outside the town as Livingston developed.  This was agreed.  (The word `District` was eventually to be dropped with no effect on membership rights.)

The club applied for and was granted membership of the Edinburgh and District Union in the same year.  All games would be played away from home until such times a home pitch became available.

Players would purchase and maintain their own strips: dark blue jersey, white shorts and socks.

Jim McMahon, standing extreme right, and John Stewart 4th from left in front.  The late president, John Harkness is third from left.  Bankton Mains, 1969

Ground and clubhouse

Through the good offices of Messrs Sandilands and Smith, a field and two derelict farm cottages were made available to the club at Bankton Mains farm.  It was a proviso that the cattle and sheep still had the grazing rights on the field during the week.  It was not unusual for some cattle to view the training rituals whilst chewing the cud.  Many were the varied comments by visiting players when they found out what lay among the tall grass.

The cottages were knocked into rough and ready changing and shower facilities by voluntary labour.  Bryn Ebdon, joinery; Jack Lauder and Tom Baxter, electrical; Kenny Campbell, plastering and brickwork; Jim McMahon and me, plumbing.  The latter two were ably assisted by Doctor Ross Munro.  Others helped with the painting.  The showers were purchased from the National Coal Board for £10.00 and sold off later by ourselves for £25.00

The rugby posts were four pine trees that were donated by the L.D.C..

Even this early, we yearned for a proper clubhouse, and it was with great enthusiasm that we set about dismantling the old wooden building that was the Ministry of Labour Office in Whitburn Road, Bathgate.  This was donated to us by a benefactor, Mr Norman Pratt.  He was a builder that had the contract for the demolition.  The offer was providing that we did the job ourselves. Duly done, he stored the building for us, but it never saw the light of day again.  Can`t help feeling he knew what it was about.

Last game of sason 1968 - 1969 Standing L to R, Jim Irvine, Bill Henderson, Pete Lawson, Tom Baxter, Alwyn O`Neill, Tom Taylor, Ian Downes, Jm Sandilands (Ref), John Ritchie. Front L to R: Kenny Campbell, Ian Wilson (Captain), Bryn Ebdon, Jack Nixon, Rab Denholm, Alan Kenny, John Stewart.

Club logo

All clubs had their logos and Livingston were not to be left out even at this early stage.  We were fortunate to have in our midst one John James.  John was an artist and sculptor and worked with British Leyland at Bathgate.  His work there was to produce hand drawings of the engine parts as opposed to photographs for owner's manuals.

He was the ideal man for our task.  He produced what is now our ubiquitous falcon.  Below is the photograph of the original Livingston and District R.F.C blazer badge.  This, of course, is now superceded by the one omitting 'and District'.  Sadly, John died some years ago after returning to England.