I had promised Andre Groenewald the Minister at Balerno Parish Church and our Club Chaplain that I would attend church on Remembrance Sunday. Sadly I could not make it which is a shame as I like to pay my respects each year to those who gave their lives not least my Great Uncle who died only 27 days before the end of the Great War. He was a mule packer with the Cheshires so was not even on the front line. A stray German shell killed him and his mules. His body was never recovered and his memorial plaque stands alongside nearly  34,000 other allied soldiers whose bodies were never found at Tynecot Memorial at Passchendaele in Flanders.

Musselburgh celebrated its centenary last year having been established in 1921 only three years after the Great War had ended. I often think about the soldiers who returned home indelibly stamped with the horrific memories of this brutal industrial war. No mental healthcare in those days. You just had to get on with it and that is perhaps what the gentlemen of Musselburgh did in setting up their rugby club all those years ago. A welcome distraction for those who had returned only a few years earlier.

Saturday’s game was very hard and Musselburgh belied their lowly position to really compete in what is turning out to be a very competitive league. Indeed the Burgh’s only try was a cracker and they pushed Currie hard all afternoon for not much reward.

Charlie Brett an effervescent full back scored two super tries and was my man of the match. I remember watching Charlie growing up. Often the smallest guy on the park, he always had a smile on his face and remained utterly positive despite a number of serious injuries. He has developed into an outstanding full back and,is an integral part of the team. Just goes to show what can be achieved with a bit of grit and determination.

Thoughts now turn to a double header against Accies who were founded in 1857 over 60 years before Musselburgh and over 110 years since Currie first started. They are the oldest rugby club in Scotland and the second oldest in the world.

The first game is at home next Saturday at 1.15pm to accommodate the international against Argentina later that afternoon. They have a good team as evidenced by their 3rd place standing in the league  and  pushed us hard last year particularly in the semifinal play offs. They will be out for revenge and we will need the full Chieftains support at the match if we are to overcome.

Our A’s also welcome Accies who are top of the East Reserve League 1 and are unbeaten in the nine games played so far so another very tough match awaits.

Our U16 and Colts march on to the semi-final of the National Youth Shield and West Conference Cup 🏆

U16's had a 26-0 victory against Jed-Thistle. Colts had a trip to Oban which finished up with a 49-10 win. Well done guys.

One final point. Just To put matters in perspective, nearly 300 members of Edinburgh Accies lost their lives in the First World War.

Lest we forget.

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Charles Mullins, President