West of Scotland CC have announced a star-studded fundraising event in September, as the drive to renovate the pavilion at one of sport’s most historic venues continues.
The club have confirmed a dinner will take place on Sunday, September 17, at the DoubleTree Hilton in Glasgow, hosted by broadcaster Dougie Donnelly and featuring some high profile guest speakers from across the sporting world. The date coincides not only with the conclusion of the Scottish cricket season, but also with the one-off 150th anniversary football international between Scotland and England at Hampden Park, on Tuesday, September 12.
West’s home of Hamilton Crescent was the scene of the world’s first football international, between Scotland and England, on St Andrew’s Day in 1872. The match was drawn 0-0 in front of around 4,000 spectators. Further internationals were held in the years that followed, as well as a Scottish Cup final, before the first Hampden Park stadium was inaugurated. A rugby international between Scotland and Wales took place at the ground in 1885, but it is cricket that Hamilton Crescent has been most renowned for through the years.
The pavilion at Hamilton Crescent was opened 100 years ago, and has hosted some of the greats of cricket, including games between Scotland and touring sides from Australia, New Zealand, West Indies and the MCC amongst many others. In recent years the pavilion has been showing its age; this was exacerbated by water damage which badly affected the state of the building in early 2021. The current estimate for a complete renovation stands at more than £500,000.
Former Rangers and Scotland football manager Alex McLeish, Celtic legend Frank McAvennie and golfer Gordon Sherry are all confirmed to speak at the dinner, while a mystery high profile figure from cricket will also attend – more details on that to follow. Tickets for the fundraising dinner can be purchased here.
More information about the restoration fund for the Hamilton Crescent pavilion can be found here.
