The entry form is available to download by clicking here and then pressing the download blue button, with paper copies available from committee members.
Christmas Raffle winners!
Our Christmas Raffle draw took place on Sunday 21 December, with one of our All Stars Gregor Paterson (5) picking out all the winners.
Congratulations to Dave Robertson who picked up the top prize of £100.
Thank you to everyone who sponsored the prizes – including The Caravan Fix and Keith Irvine Plastering – as well as all those who donated raffle prizes and bought tickets too.
All prizes will be distributed in the coming weeks.
| Gala Cricket Club 2025 Xmas Draw Winners | ||
| 1 | £100 Sponsored by Caravan Fix | Dave Robertson |
| 2 | £50 Sponsored by Keith Irvine Plastering | George Liddle |
| 3 | £25 Donated by Anonymous | Ian Ormiston |
| 4 | Btl Gin | Alan Paterson |
| 5 | Btl Wine | Rob Duff |
| 6 | Btl Vodka | Cathie Ormiston |
| 7 | Btl Prosecco | Eck Boland |
| 8 | Box of Chocolates | Karice c/o Julie Niven |
| 9 | Btl Wine | Wee Jock |
| 10 | Btl Wine | Janette Hartley |
| 11 | Btl Wine | Logan Niven |
| 12 | Box of Chocolates | David Liddle |
| 13 | Btl Wine | Wendy Knoesen |
| 14 | Btl Prosecco | Lisa c/o Alan Niven |
| 15 | Btl Gin | Arthur Long |
| 16 | Btl Wine | Lucille Paterson |
| 17 | Box of Chocolates | Ellie c/o Ron Murray |
| 18 | Festive Mug | Rocky Paterson |
| 19 | Btl Wine | Eve Parkes |
| 20 | Btl Wine | Brian Hancock |
| 21 | Cans of Beer | John Purves |
| 22 | Btl Vodka | Keith Irvine |
| 23 | Btl Wine | Judy Scott |
| 24 | Btl Wine | Neil c/o Ron Murray |
| 25 | Tub of Sweets | Freya Paterson |
| 26 | Btl Gin Liqueur | John Marr |
| 27 | Btl Prosecco | Kathryn Ormiston |
| 28 | Btl Gin Liqueur | Brian Kimber |
Gala Foxes thank Rowan Boland Memorial Trust for support with fundraising quiz to be held
Gala Foxes Junior Section have thanked the Rowan Boland Memorial Trust for their continued support.
The Trust provided £1,500 to help provide all juniors with new playing and training kit.
Prior to the new kit, the players wore either old or odd kit to training and games.
The Trust have been a long-term supporter of the club.
A quiz to raise funds for the Trust will now be held at the Cricket Club on Saturday 26 July starting at 7.30pm, with teams of up to four people (entry fee of £10). Entries can be made by email to kppaterson@yahoo.co.uk or text 07913767871.
2025 memberships now due
Thank you to all our members for your support – it makes a real difference to our club.
Memberships for 2025 are now due – please complete the relevant forms below.
Printed forms are also available in our clubrooms.
Social, Senior and Student playing
You can sign up for a senior playing, student or social member by following this link – https://forms.office.com/r/FDjCKS7DpM?origin=lprLink
Juniors
Juniors can be sign up as members by following this link – https://forms.office.com/r/kKsyJUUeVi
Code of Conduct
Everyone becoming a member of Gala CC is also signing up to our code of conduct for players, coaches and spectators – please read here – https://galacricketclub.co.uk/code-of-conduct-2/
Newsletter
📣 Gala Cricket Club – May 2025 Newsletter is here! 🏏
Swipe through for club updates, fixtures, Junior training info, and more! 💥
Highlights: ✅ 1st XI off to a winning start
🎉 Overseas pro Janith Chathuranga returns
🎡 Support the club – enter our 1853 ‘Wheel of Fortune’
👶 Junior & All Stars sessions back soon
🎪 Ladies Day returns on 9th August!
📍 Full details inside – don’t miss out!
#GalaCC #CricketScotland #MeiglePark #ClubCricket #SupportLocalSport #JuniorCricket #AllStars #WheelOfFortune #LadiesDay2025
Code of Conduct for club officials, players, volunteers, coaches and spectators
Code of conduct is now available here – https://galacricketclub.co.uk/code-of-conduct-2/
Gala CC obtain charitable status
Gala Cricket Club is delighted to have now obtained charitable status.
It means Gala CC is now a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) with the SCIO number SCO53424.
Many thanks to Dughall Laing for his work helping us achieve charitable status.
Membership and sponsorship opportunities now available
Memberships for 2024 season can now be submitted via our new online form – https://galacricketclub.co.uk/2022-membership-forms/
More information on sponsorship opportunities for 2024 is available via our sponsorship brochure – https://galacricketclub.co.uk/club-sponsors-and-opportunities/
Sports Dinner success
Around 140 people packed into the Volunteer Hall in Galashiels for an evening of sporting-themed entertainment last weekend.
Gala Cricket Club and charity Rowan Boland Memorial Trust’s Sports Dinner saw Paralympian Samantha Kinghorn, Grand National winning jockey Ryan Mania and top rugby and American football coach Richie Gray reflect on the highs and lows of their careers so far.
During a series of Question and Answer sessions with MC for the night Bruce Aitchison of the Happiness is Egg Shaped brand, all three spoke with honesty and humour to give an insight into their achievements.
Samantha who hails from Gordon discussed her career which has seen her become a double paralympic medalist and latterly presenter on BBC Countryfile.
Clovenfords’ Ryan reflected on his Grand National win in 2013, but also the lows of a serious injury the very next day, and then retiring from the sport, before returning to horse racing in 2019 where he now reached over 350 winners.
And Galashiels own Richie was in top form as usual, discussing how he went from being made redundant to founding his own business and the demands of being a coach with the South Africa rugby team, as well as working with the superstar athletes of the National Football League.
The night also heard music from the talented Singing Souters – aka father and son duo Tommy and Darren Knox – as well as a raffle and auction which raised money for both the Trust and Cricket Club.
A spokesperson for the organising committee said: “We must thank Samantha, Ryan and Richie and Tommy and Darren Knox for giving up their time to take part in the dinner, as well as Bruce Aitchison who was a superb MC during the whole night.
“Thanks also to Stuart Wilson for his work on the sound during the night, John Robertson and the team for the meals, GalaPate’s bar staff and waiters and waitresses, A&A Doyle for sponsoring the dinner programmes, everyone who provided auction and raffle prizes and everyone who donated.”
Sports Dinner focus – Singing Souters and Bruce Aitchison complete line up with final call for tickets
Our final Sports Dinner focus is on our MC for the evening Bruce Aitchison from Happiness is Egg Shaped and our musical entertainment, the Singing Souters – also known as Tommy and Darren Knox from Selkirk.
Anyone still thinking about attending is asked to please buy their ticket by this Saturday (30 March) to allow catering arrangements to be finalised – please contact galacricketclub@gmail.com, Scott Paterson (07834522358); Keith Irvine (07773142226) or Kenny Paterson (07913767871).
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Bruce Aitchison hails from Stow and while a Hibs fan, rugby that has been the dominant sport in his life.
One of his early rugby achievements was captaining Gala Academy to a Scottish Schools Under 18 Final triumph over Dundee High School in 1997 by the narrowest of margins – eight points to seven. Only one other state school has claimed the cup since Gala Academy, highlighting what a remarkable feat it was for the young Braw Lads.
Bruce’s passion and commitment to all things rugby continued after he left school and he managed to play the sport across the world, from Gala and Watsonians to the wonderfully named Albany Knickbockers in New York to Kowloon in Hong Kong and Te Rapa in New Zealand.
The father of two then moved into coaching at various clubs such as Murrayfield Wanderers, Boroughmuir and Watsonians, alongside teaching in Hong Kong, secondary schools in Scotland and now as housemaster at Merchiston Castle School.
Inspired by a t-shirt presented to him by his brother, Bruce has also created the Happiness is Egg Shaped brand, which now includes a website, popular social media channel – including 36,000 Facebook followers – and podcast.
Under the brand name, Bruce writes blogs, carries out educational talks and after dinner speeches, MC roles and ‘other rugby related nonsense’ as he puts it.
Last year, he also completed his Breenge Tae The Borders challenge, to cycle 100 miles from Dundee to Galashiels and then Melrose, to raise money for My Name’5 Doddie Foundation in memory of his friend and hero, the late great Doddie Weir.
The Singing Souters – father and son duo Tommy and Darren Knox – will be our musical entertainment throughout the evening.
Tommy is a decorator to trade, having been self employed for 32 years and is married to Lynne from Galashiels.
A singer with local Selkirk folk group Gaelforce, Tommy also enjoys running with the Gala Harriers and cycling.
He recently completed a brilliant sponsored cycle ride to Italy with the Cycling Souters, helping to raise over £36,000 – and counting – for My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. You can still donate at https://www.justgiving.com/team/cyclingsouters.
Darren works at the Border Physio Clinic in Gattonside, having previously lived in Glasgow for ten years.
It was in Scotland’s largest city he performed a number of gigs from pubs to weddings and functions.
He recently returned to Scotland after travelling in Australia and New Zealand for eight months, and has now returned to the Royal Burgh.
Thank you to Bruce, Tommy and Darren and, and Samantha Kinghorn, Richie Gray and Ryan Mania for taking part in our sports dinner in aid of Gala Cricket Club and Rowan Boland Memorial Trust.