Hillfoots RFC is a Scottish rugby union club based in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire. The club plays its home games at the Public Park in Tillicoultry.
The club runs two senior men's XVs (a 1st XV and an occasional 2nd XV (the Rams)), a senior women's team (the Vixens), and a veterans men's team (the Cast Tups). The club also run youths and junior squads from P1 to U18 age-groups, working closely with the local primary schools and the high school, Alva Academy.
Hillfoots men's 1st XV currently play in the Caledonia League Division 1 and the Vixens play in Caledonia Midlands/East League Division 1.
History
After a public meeting in the Congregational Church Hall in Tillicoultry on Monday 7 December 1970, Hillfoots Rugby Football Club was founded. The club's first game was against an Alloa RFC 4th XV in the public park on 6 March 1971. Hillfoots were victorious by 18 points to 11.
After a season of non-league friendly fixtures in 1971-72, the club entered the Midlands District League the following season. Promotion to National League Division VII was achieved in 1975, to Division VI in 1982 and to Division V in 1984 where the club remained for over a decade.
Three of its most famous players John Manson, Danny Herrington and Bob Cairney formed a front row in the 1990s called the 'Tillicoultry Troglodytes'. All three went on to play for Dundee HSFP.
The club's most sustained period of success began in 2000 when Sandy Penman and Brian Ireland, as captain and player-coach, led the club to successive promotions to National League Division I, then the third tier of Scottish club rugby.
An unsuccessful and short-lived merger with Alloa RFC coincided with a slide back down the divisions as the core of a very successful team began to retire. By 2010, due to relegations and league reconstruction, the club found itself back in the regional divisions. The club was awarded the Scottish Rugby Union's club of the month award in October 2011.
Since the early 2010s, most seasons have been spent in Caledonia Division 1, with brief spells one level lower. The club was promoted to Caledonia Division 1 for season 2025-26, finishing third in the ten team division - their highest placing since 2011-12.
On 15 February 2025, Hillfoots defeated Alloa in the final of the Caledonia Midlands Bowl. The game, dubbed 'El Clacksico' was played at Tilly Park. The final score was 24-17. Hillfoots' try scorers were Danny Cockroft and Duncan Arthur. Man of the match Aidan Kerr contributed a drop goal, a penalty and a conversion and Andy Fraser scored two penalties.
As part of the club's 50th anniversary celebrations in 2021, a history of the club was published and made available for sale. The book, entitled 'Fifty Years Together - An Incomplete History of Hillfoots RFC', was authored by Gerry Docherty with assistance from Peter Norman, Alistair Spowage and Gavin Spowage.
The club started a women's team in September 2023, nicknamed the Vixens. After a successful first season of friendly fixtures, the Vixens were accepted into the national league set-up and played in Caledonia Midlands/East League 2 in 2024-25, finishing in mid-table. The following season they finished third in the same division and made it to the final of the National Shield, losing to Lenzie at the Hive stadium at Murrayfield. League reconstruction has resulted in the Vixens playing in Caledonia Midlands/East League Division 1 in 2026-27.
Notable former players
Scotland internationalists
The following former Hillfoots players have represented Scotland at full international level. John Manson Jamie Bhatti Adam Ashe
North and Midlands
The following former Hillfoots players have represented North and Midlands at provincial level. Danny Herrington
Caledonia Reds players
The following former Hillfoots players have represented Caledonia Reds at professional level. Danny Herrington John Manson
Honours Men's League competition: National League Division 3 Runners-up: 2001-02 National League Division 4 Runners-up: 2000-01 National League Division 5 Winners: 1999-00 National League Division 6 Runners-up: 1983-84 Midlands District League Winners: 1974-75; 1978-79 Caledonia Division 1 Runners-up: 2010-11; 2011-12 Caledonia Division 2 Midlands Winners: 2013-14; 2017-18 Men's Cup competition:
Caledonia Midlands Bowl Winners: 2024-25 Women's Cup competition:
National Shield Runners-up: 2025-26
Presidents, Club Captains and Coaches The following table lists all presidents, men's club captains and men's 1st XV coaches of the club since its first season in 1971/72. +Season President Club Captain1st XV Coach(es)Players' Player of the Year1971-72Rev. Morgan PhilipsBilly Lyons1972-73John MurrayFraser MasonBob Dewar1973-74John MurrayBob DewarBob Dewar1974-75John MurrayJohn PerryColin Davies1975-76John A ScottTommy WalkerColin Davies1976-77John A ScottDave KenyonColin Davies1977-78John A ScottJohn PerryColin Davies1978-79John A ScottPeter NormanAlan AaronRay Inglis1979-80John A ScottPeter NormanAlan AaronDuncan Findlay1980-81John A ScottAlistair SpowageTommy WattersKevin Manson1981-82Alan AaronKevin MansonDavy PrenticeGregor Kennedy1982-83Alan AaronKevin MansonDave Kenyon, Bill Kinross & Davy PrenticeJim Bell1983-84I G GourlayPeter NormanBill KinrossAlan Gray1984-85T I ScottPeter NormanBill KinrossKevin Manson1985-86T I ScottDougie Whitehead Bill KinrossDanny Herrington1986-87T I ScottDougie WhiteheadBill YoungAlan Manson1987-88T I ScottDougie WhiteheadBill YoungJohn Manson & Danny Herrington1988-89Alan AaronKevin MansonBrian Jamieson & Charlie ForbesSimon Bowyer1989-90Alan AaronAndy GrinlyDave Kenyon & Bill YoungAlan Manson1990-91Alan AaronAlan MansonAlan PrenticeMark Carberry1991-92Alan AaronGregor KennedyMark Carberry1992-93Alan AaronAlistair SpowageAlec McCullochA Baker1993-94Alan AaronPeter NormanAlan PrenticeCallum Hamilton1994-95John PritchardPeter NormanDougie WhiteheadP Horne1995-96Martin RossDougie WhiteheadWillie McCune1996-97Martin RossJim BellTony HowardJim Bell1997-98Peter NormanJim BellTony HowardCallum Hamilton & Mike Wynd1998-99Peter NormanDavie StirrattBrian IrelandBrian Ireland1999-00Peter NormanBrian IrelandBrian IrelandMike Wynd2000-01Peter NormanBrian IrelandBrian IrelandJim Dawson2001-02Peter NormanBrian IrelandBrian IrelandSandy Penman2002-03Peter NormanSandy PenmanBrian IrelandMike Slade2003-04Peter NormanSandy PenmanBrian IrelandIain Nicolson2004-05Peter NormanSandy PenmanBrian IrelandIain Nicolson2005-06Peter NormanSandy PenmanBrian IrelandAndrew Hamilton2006-07Peter NormanMike SladeBrian IrelandMike Slade2007-08Peter NormanMike SladeBrian IrelandA Pudney2008-09Peter NormanAndrew HamiltonBrian IrelandCalum McGee2009-10Peter NormanIan KelleyBrian IrelandGavin Spowage2010-11Peter NormanGavin SpowageIain NicolsonIain Nicolson2011-12Peter NormanGavin SpowageKevin MansonCraig Scott2012-13Peter NormanGavin SpowageIain NicolsonJamie Murchie2013-14Peter NormanCampbell CalderIain NicolsonDavid McCulloch2014-15Eddie InglisCampbell CalderStuart McGeeMark Hunter2015-16Eddie InglisGavin SpowageMurray McKenzieDuncan Arthur2016-17Eddie InglisGregor MansonRudi Urbach, Ian Hamilton & Ritchie BruceDanny Ross2017-18Paddy SherrardIain NicolsonIan Hamilton, Ritchie Bruce & Mark HunterGreig Anderson2018-19Gavin SpowageAlan SteeleMark HunterDavie Cree & John McMurdo2019-20Gavin SpowageKeith SladeMurray Brown, Brad BellFraser Christie2020-21Peter NormanKeith SladeMurray Brownn/a2021-22Peter NormanKeith SladeMurray Brown, Murray McKenzieIain Anderson2022-23Paddy SherrardKeith SladeMurray McKenzieRobert Hodge2023-24Paddy SherrardPaul SladeGraeme Simpson, Kris IllingworthRyan Butterworth2024-25Kris IllingworthPaul SladeGraeme Simpson, Kris Illingworth, Gregor MansonDanny Cockroft 2025-26Kris IllingworthPaul SladeEric Urquhart, Iain Nicolson Connor Clark2026-27Peter NormanIan LightleyEric Urquhart, Aiden Kerr, Alex Maxwell
The Hillfoots Vixens' captains, coaches and players' player of the year since their founding in 2023 are listed in the table below. +SeasonCaptainCoach(es)Players' Player of the Year2023-24Christina SwintonJordan Usher, Ross McNeil2024-25Christina SwintonJordan Usher, Ross McNeil2025-26Christina SwintonJordan Usher, Ross McNeil2026-27Christina SwintonRoss McNeil
The Bobby McGill Cup Since 2018, Hillfoots RFC and Alloa RFC have competed for the Bobby McGill Cup, donated by the family of the former leader of Clackmannanshire Council. The two rugby clubs have long enjoyed a competitive rivalry although have rarely competed in the same division over the years. Since 2018, the cup has been awarded to the victorious team, as shown in bold in the table below. The cup is not played for in any pre-season or 'friendly' fixtures. Hillfoots are currently slightly ahead with five victories to Alloa's four. +DateCompetitionVenueScore15 September 2018Caledonia Division 1EarlsfieldAlloa 29-12 Hillfoots1 December 2018Caledonia Division 1Tilly ParkHillfoots 35-15 Alloa31 August 2019Caledonia Division 1Tilly ParkHillfoots 29-13 Alloa18 January 2020Caledonia Division 1EarlsfieldAlloa 7-24 Hillfoots12 October 2024Caledonia Division 2 MidlandsTilly ParkHillfoots 10-19 Alloa8 February 2025Caledonia Division 2 MidlandsEarlsfieldAlloa 3-16 Hillfoots15 February 2025Caledonia Midlands Bowl FinalTilly ParkHillfoots 24-17 Alloa4 October 2025Caledonia Division 1EarlsfieldAlloa 28-22 Hillfoots 17 January 2026Caledonia Division 1Tilly ParkHillfoots 10-12 Alloa19 September 2026Caledonia Division 1Earlsfield12 December 2026Caledonia Division 1Tilly Park
References