Club History
The original Gordon Rugby Football Club was established in 1927 on Sydney’s North Shore, playing in the Metropolitan Junior Competitions and its home games on Roseville Chase Oval. The club was disbanded in 1930, and the following year, many of its players transferred to the newly formed Roseville Junior Rugby Union Football Club, whose home ground was Chatswood Oval. In the 1935 season, the club won the Metropolitan Junior Club Championship, the Kentwell Cup and its second grade, the Bourke Cup.
Following its success, the club was admitted to the Grade Competition in 1936. It changed its name to the Gordon District Rugby Union Football Club, fielding four grade and two junior sides, which participated in the Metropolitan Junior Competition.
By 1939, the 1st XV had won the minor premiership but were defeated in the final by the ultimate premiers. Apart from the 4th-grade team winning a premiership in 1946, it was 1949 before Gordon won the Club Championship with its 1st and 4th-grade teams, with all four teams playing in the semi-finals.
In 1949, the club adopted a new jersey incorporating the Gordon tartan colours and its club song “A Gordon For Me”, emphasising the strong Scottish influence within the club.
First-grade premierships were achieved in 1949, 1952, 1956, 1958, 1976, 1993, 1995, 1998 and 2020. Over the years, the lower grade sides have played prominently at or near the top of the competition tables, with Gordon winning the Club Championship 14 times.
Many Gordon players have earned representative honours playing for the state and Australia – far too many to list here. Trevor Allan, who has won lasting international acclaim, together with Bob Davidson and Peter Sullivan, have all captained Australian touring teams.
In addition to the club’s attractive style of play, it is renowned for its dedication to promoting the game at all levels, its tremendous club spirit, its enthusiastic supporters and an excellent and supportive administration.
Under Gordon Rugby’s banner, the Gordon Rugby Football Club Ltd currently fields four grade and four colts sides, plus reserves and representative junior sides from village clubs Chatswood, Hornsby, Killara / West Pymble (KWP), Lane Cove, Lindfield, Roseville, St Ives and Wahroonga.
Gordon Highlanders – Where Does the Name Come From?
Our jersey is a representation of the Gordon tartan of Clan Gordon as adopted and worn by the 92nd Regiment of Foot, originally established in 1794 in
Scotland by the 5th Duke of Gordon and known as the “Gordon Highlanders”.
Renumbered the 92nd in 1798, the Regiment went on to see extensive action during the war against revolutionary France. From the Netherlands, Egypt, Denmark and the Peninsular War through to the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815, The Gordon Highlanders established a reputation as one of the most effective and dependable regiments in the British Army.
The Regiment adopted as its cap badge and motto the crest of the Dukes of Gordon. The main cap badge worn by the Gordon Highlanders bears the Royal Stag head of the Marquis of Huntly, which sits on a Duke’s crown. The surrounding ivy also represents the Gordon family.
The motto ‘Bydand’ is visible underneath the crown. This is a Scots word meaning ‘Steadfast’, not to run away from danger, to keep going whatever the difficulties.
Source: Gordon Highlander's Museum
