Caithness Rugby Football Club have made huge strides in their quest for recognition since their humble beginnings in September 1962.

Always a leading light in the north, the club could have begun their national league career in 1973/74 – the season after the SRU league system was inaugurated, when, as champions of the Highland District League, they qualified to join National League Seven but turned down the opportunity because of the travelling involved.

After a regular run of league and cup successes in the ‘70s and ‘80s, the club finally acquired national league status after winning the North District title in season 1991/92.

Successive promotions took them to National League Division Two, where they have been for the past three seasons – ranking them in the top fifty or so teams in the country.

Their mid-table position last term was a considerable achievement given the clutch of youngsters they were forced to field as a result of a run of injuries and unavailablities due to work commitment.

Coach Jim MacMillan and his squad deserve credit for their unstinting endeavour and commitment which helped the team stay in what is a very physical and highly competitive division.

The club is no longer fazed by their immense travelling commitments and, with Colin Sangster returning for a second spell as coach, they are hungry for further success in the coming season.

Although the club failed to clinch any silverware during the past season they were extremely proud of the fact that their scrum-half, Kris Hamilton, was selected for the Scotland under-19 team. Kris narrowly missed out the previous year in representing the under-18 side but his perseverance, commitment and excellent form throughout the season was recognised by the national selectors.

It is a huge achievement by Kris and reflects positively on Caithness rugby as a whole. Youngsters playing the game locally are able to associate their talents and efforts with a local player who has made the break through to become a junior internationalist and they too can aspire to achieve similar goals. Kris has been awarded a place in the National Rugby Academy.

At the end of the season the club held a very successful sportsman’s dinner with ex-Scottish internationalist and British Lion, Jim Calder the main speaker.

Profits from the event went towards the drive to raise money for our own clubhouse, which would introduce a social venue at Millbank - a long-time major gap in our facilities.

The clubhouse scheme, currently awaiting planning approval, includes changing rooms, lounge/meeting space, bar and food serving facilities and toilets.

Our ambition is to have the clubhouse up and running in time for our fiftieth anniversary season - 2012.

The club recently purchased a new minibus which we hope will prove a major asset for all age groups.

The youth element of rugby in Caithness is strong with minis, midis, school and under 18s all progressing well.

We look forward to some of the stars of the youth ranks coming through to wear a green jersey in the not too distant future.

Long-time supporters of the club will note how well the Millbank grounds have looked during the past season. The major drainage works has proved very successful while a floodlit training area is almost near completion.

A small group of volunteers keep the playing surface in tiptop condition with their years of hard work now beginning to pay dividends.

The pitch, once regularly pilloried for its gluepot appearance during wet spells, is now acknowledged as one of the best in the north.

To field only one team every week costs the club in the region of £20,000 per season. We have an active fund-raising group who are always busy thinking of ways to supplement income. A range of events such as selling Christmas trees, stewarding the County Show admission gates, horse racing nights, catering at the portacabin on match days, Christmas draws and other events raised over £7000 last year.

However, the club is very much dependant on business sponsorship to continue climbing the ladder of success. Without such support it would not be possible to participate on the national stage.

Our geographical position means that the commitment from players and coaches is huge. For away games the squad depart on a Friday evening, stay in Perth overnight, play the game the next day and eventually come over the Ord around midnight on Saturday.

We are particularly proud of the fact that our club is representative of all Caithness, calling on players from all sections of the community, exclusively from within the county.

We very much hope you will support Caithness Rugby Football Club as they continue to bring credit to the county and, without doubt, punch above their weight.

Club rugby within Scotland, under the auspices of the Scottish Rugby Union, consists of three Premier, three National and nine Regional leagues.

Each of the Premier and National leagues consists of twelve teams while eighty-nine teams compete in the Regional leagues.

Caithness, having finished seventh in National Division Two in the past season, are fifty-fifth in pecking order from the one-hundred and sixty-one teams participating in the country. A highly creditable performance.