Clare Dooley is “excited and honoured” to be taking on the role as Stewartry Rugby Football Club president and she is looking forward to building on a positive last couple of years at the Castle Douglas outfit.
Click onto the club’s website and the first words that you read are ‘rugby at our core, community at our hearts’ and it is clear from speaking to Dooley that making an impact locally on an off the pitch is very important to all involved at Stewartry.
"Our vision is 'rugby at our core, community in our hearts 'and our values include creating a sense of belonging and a commitment to our local community,” Dooley said.
“Each of our playing sections are built on the hard work and dedication of a whole host of volunteers including coaches, supporters, team managers, parents and others who all come together to provide that community feel.
We are also working hard to develop and expand this to include the wider community, previous players and supporters of the club.
We do this in a number of ways including holding various social events and is something I hope to continue working on with the support of the committee and our director of rugby John Muir who has played a huge part in my rugby journey and is extremely passionate about the community element.
“And that element and the supportive nature of everyone involved in the club is the best thing about being involved with Stewartry.
"The club welcomed me with open arms and an open heart and everyone has been so supportive of me - and I want others who join and get involved to have the same experience.”
Dooley, who is originally from Kirkcudbright and moved around a lot as a youngster a part of a military family came to rugby nine years ago aged 37.
Stewartry has produced the likes of current Scotland men’s cap Stafford McDowall while former women’s international Lisa Ritchie currently plays at the club and it’s clear there is something for everyone at Greenlaw.
“I joined the Sirens women’s team at the club for fitness that pre-season and the rest is history, I was soon hooked,” the 46-year-old explains.
“It has been quite a journey as a player, captain and now president and I have loved every minute of it.
“Since my very first match I have literally never looked back, I came off the pitch that day thinking 'wow, why have I never done this before?'.
“Rugby suddenly gave me a chance to celebrate everything I was good at and it didn't matter about the things that I may not be quite so good at.
"I might not be fast, but I'm strong, I work hard, I'm a team player, I give 100% for my team-mates and coaches.
"I love the fact that there is a position for everyone in a rugby team and that your strengths are celebrated. I love the mixture of folk you get within a rugby team, the fact that we all pull together and that special relationships are built."
Dooley, a second-row/front-row, still plays and was captain of the Sirens team that won West One in 2022/23 and then survived in an ever-improving Premiership last term.
The men’s first XV will be plying their trade in National Four during the coming campaign and, in 2022/23, won the National Shield at Murrayfield and gained promotion from West One into the then expanding national leagues.
“The women’s section is continuing to grow and being in the top flight is no mean feat for a club of our size while there is a men’s second team too who support the firsts,” she stated.
“We now field eight youth teams and our boys under-18 Galloway squad won the West Youth Bowl final last season and numbers have grown over the summer so that we can now put out a fully Stewartry under-18 team.
“Our under-16 boys won the Dumfries and Galloway Wilderness Trophy last term and our other youth sections continue to grow with the continued support of our volunteers, coaches and development officer Ross Sanderson.
“The girls section is growing in strength thanks to the hard work of coaches Hannah Sainsbury, John Dawson and Ralph Spernagal while this season sees Dawn Campbell coming on board to create an under-12s girls group.
“We are located in Castle Douglas and are a rural club. Nearly 70% of people in our catchment area live in areas classified as ‘remote’.
"This is significant for us as a club because it means we cover a huge area and travelling to us can be difficult and a long process.
“This can mean player recruitment and retention is a difficult process, but, that being said, the club is working hard on a player recruitment drive and everyone who is already involved puts in the time and effort because they enjoy it so much.”
Dooley is the first female president of Stewartry and, while proud of that fact, she is not getting caught up in that and points to the fact that people such as Sharon Hiddleston at Dumfries Saints have already held similar posts locally.
"I truly believe that I was asked to be vice-president, and consequently president, based on my involvement with the club previously and the qualities I could bring to the roles, the fact that I happen to be female is just an 'added extra',” Dooley, who is a deputy headteacher at a local primary school away from rugby, said.
“It was very much an honour to be asked to be vice-president of Stewartry two years by the then president James Picken and to now be president, well I am excited and honoured.”
“It can feel a little daunting at times, especially following in James' footsteps as he had a very successful time in his two years as president, however, the committee are hugely supportive of me, in fact the whole club is, and James is very much at the end of the phone to answer any questions I have.
“I am looking forward to the coming season - and indeed the next two years as president - of this brilliant community club.”
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