Pass It On: Bishopton Ladies RFC
- Erin Gilmour
- Jul 2
- 5 min read
From 4 Players to League Champions: The Inspiring Journey of Bishopton Ladies Rugby
When Bishopton Ladies Rugby officially kicked off on January 28th 2018, nobody could have predicted the remarkable transformation that would unfold over the next six years. What started as club president Andy Jackson's vision for "the next step for the club" has evolved into a championship-winning team that's rewriting the narrative of women's rugby in the West of Scotland.
Humble Beginnings: When Dreams Seemed Impossible
The early days were far from glamorous. One of the founding members, Kirstie Brownlie, recalls "I remember it used to be on a Friday night at Renfrew sports centre and some weeks only 4 or 5 players were there, and it was so hard to imagine ever playing a full 15-a-side game.”. The journey from bootcamp-style fitness sessions to full contact rugby wasn't easy – roughly half the original players decided contact rugby wasn't for them.
The challenges were real and daunting. When the team joined the national bowl, they didn't have enough players to field 15 a side, let alone a full squad of 22. This led to a temporary amalgamation with Cumbernauld Ladies to form "Bishernauld" until they were strong enough to stand alone.
But even in those uncertain times, there was something special brewing. As current captain Kirstie reflects, "Although I don't ever remember the coaches or players really talking about worries of the team folding, for a long time we had a lot of uncertainty about what the future would hold."
Breaking Through: First Victories That Changed Everything
Every team has defining moments, and for Bishopton Ladies, their first league win against Wigtownshire was pure magic. The 19-5 victory against a team sitting third in the league while Bishopton were at the bottom was more than just three points – it was validation.
"We were seen as a team that was easy to beat and lots of teams in the league were frequently putting big scores against us, so we never, ever thought we'd beat a team like them. I remember when the final whistle went, folk crying with happiness and celebrating as though we'd won the league."
Another milestone came with their first victory against Hamilton, a team they'd always seen as their closest rival. "For years we'd always seen them as our closest rival and had somehow always come up short and every time we lost you could feel the team's frustration, so when we finally managed to beat them it was incredible."
The growth from those early struggles to recent dominance is perhaps best illustrated by this season's 89-0 victory over the same Hamilton side. As Kirstie puts it: "We were once getting beaten by that much week in week out, we saw them as our closest rivals and dreamed of the day we could finally beat them, to now having that score just shows how far we as a team have come."
Personal Transformations: More Than Just Rugby
The impact of Bishopton Ladies extends far beyond the rugby pitch. For captain Kirstie, who joined because of her New Year's resolution, rugby has been life-changing:
"Rugby has changed my life in several ways, I truly believe it has given me confidence and leadership skills that have allowed me to progress in my career. It has given me patience and resilience and a lot more appreciation for my body. I used to be a girl that strived to be skinny as possible and struggled with body image but now I want to fuel my body for a purpose and to be better, stronger and faster for my teammates."
Vice-captain Jen's journey began as a Glasgow Warriors season ticket holder who, by her own admission, "didn't know half the laws, and had no idea what was happening when folk in the stands were shouting 'in at the side' or 'off his feet'!" After joining at age 35 in July 2019, she became part of the team's incredible growth story. "We are still season ticket holders at Glasgow Warriors and now we're the ones shouting 'in at the side!' and we actually know what we're talking about!"
Leadership That Makes the Difference
Success doesn't happen by accident, and Bishopton Ladies has been blessed with exceptional leadership. Founding captain Sarah Miles has been "influential throughout her time at the club. Leading the team through its hardships and unknowns in the beginning, never wavering from any challenge we faced right up to the current day."
The 2024/2025 coaching trio of David Jackson (brother of the section's founder), Vanessa Reid-Phelps, and Sandy Glassford was instrumental in recent success. "Thanks to the coaches’ hard work and commitment the last two seasons the ladies have achieved everything they have set out to do and even more so this season, making club history."
Building Community: More Than a Rugby Club
What sets Bishopton apart is their commitment to community and inclusivity. The club's philosophy that "rugby should be accessible for everyone" is demonstrated through free kids' rugby programs, ensuring that, regardless of financial circumstances, children have a fun and safe place to make friends and enjoy the game.
Their approach to welcoming new players and rival teams showcases true sportsmanship. Staying true to the founding notion of the team, when playing in a round-robin event where teams were short of players, Bishopton Ladies invited Ardrossan players to join them, ensuring they had the opportunity to compete with adequate game time. This act of sportsmanship was repaid when the Ardrossan team unfortunately folded – many of their players joined Bishopton because of this experience.
From Underdogs to Champions: The Sweet Taste of Success
The culmination of years of hard work came with this season's league championship. "To watch the team, grow in the way it has, having gone from 2018 with 4-5 players to now having to sometimes drop 4 or 5 players for game day. To see everyone really begin to flourish and reap the rewards of their consistent hard work is a fantastic feeling. The icing on the cake is winning the league, getting to say Bishopton ladies' winners of West 2 gives me goosebumps."
Bishopton Ladies will be tackling new challenges this season with promotion to West Region League Division 1, being led by their new head coach Stacey MacLeod. The experience Stacey had playing with the team last season, she knew retirement couldn’t keep her away.
Stacey comments, “The club are such a lovely community club and have been so welcoming and encouraging. I’m excited to watch this squad grow and build on last season's league win up in West 1.”.
Looking Forward: Legacy and Growth
The future vision for Bishopton Ladies is ambitious yet grounded in their core values. "My hope is that the club continues to grow, we continue to be positive role models that attract both girls and women to the sport. I cannot wait for the day that the current girls at the club are of age to pull on the ladies' jersey."
Perhaps most importantly, they want to change perceptions: "Something I would like to see change is how women's rugby is perceived, that is a game for everyone and that you don't need to be confined to a certain stereotype."
The Heart of It All
As the growth of women's rugby in the West demonstrates, there's clearly an appetite for what they're offering. But beyond the trophies and league positions, what makes Bishopton Ladies special is captured perfectly in this sentiment: "we aim to be the beating heart of community."
From 4-5 players showing up to Friday night training to league champions with a waiting list, Bishopton Ladies Rugby proves that with vision, determination, and genuine care for each other, incredible transformations are possible. Their story isn't just about rugby – it's about what happens when a community comes together to support each other's dreams.”
We at Muddy Roots wish Bishopton Ladies all the best for the 2025/2026 season, and thank the club members for sharing their story with us.
The legacy continues, and the best is yet to come.
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