Feb
16
Question: How do you balance modern change with core club values?
Answer: Bring on, those who have given so much to the club on the field and who are just as keen to give as much off the field expertise.
The new away jersey design has been generating a lot of positive feedback from all corners of the club, our sponsors and even those not associated with Boroughmuir who have been drawn to the modern design.
We caught up with the man who designed it Steve Johnstone:
“My name is Steve Johnstone and I joined Boroughmuir RFC playing in the colts at the age of 12. Even though I went to Firrhill High SchooI, I was lucky enough to be invited to play for Boroughmuir School team during the teachers strike at that time,
I couldn’t get enough of my rugby.
I worked my way up over the years as a hooker and spent some of the best days of my life playing and touring with the club, until a shoulder injury forced me to hang my boots up at the ripe old age of 27.
I may not see some of the guys for years, but when I do, it’s like we’ve just come off the pitch, the chat is effortless and we just pick up where we left off a number of years ago.
Certainly a part of my life I have the fondest memories of and met some great guys along the way."
Q: How did the redesign come about, what was your inspiration?
"Justin Tito, a Director at Muir, was a business colleague of my brother at Sainsbury Bank, they got chatting and discovered my link to the club. So Justin and I met up and discussed how my experience in design and advertising may be of benefit to the club and so it began.
The inspiration for the tops was originally driven by a collective desire to go back in time a little and re-look at the iconic quarters strip. However, we knew we had to put a bit of a twist on it (literally) and bring it up to date so that players and fans and would want to pull on that new jersey. We tried a few whacky versions too, but we felt this chosen one hit the mark for most people."
Q: What else has your company supported Boroughmuir Rugby with?
"My company Alliance Creative have assisted the club in trying to enhance their profile through graphics and design. We’ve been so proud to have been involved in the redesign of the away kit and are over the moon that it has been received well.
We have also produced the campaign designs and artworks for the last 2 Boroughmuir 7s tournaments. This involved redesigning the 7s logo and applying it to eye catching promotional street banners, online sections of the Boroughmuir website and the tournament programmes themselves."
Q: Why are modern jersey designs important to clubs these days?
"There’s clearly a financial drive for clubs to keep sales of their team’s kit ticking over, so regular updates to the strips are essential to keep in line with current trends, ensuring the fans and players are proud to be seen out and about wearing their team’s colours.
Kids play a big part in that too, they watch their club players, want to play like them and wear the same kits, hopefully that will spur them on to be the future stars of Boroughmuir RFC, maybe even the national team."
Q: How important is it for former players to keep in contact with the club and help out where they can?
"We all know there’s not enough cash going around in Scottish rugby in certain levels, so making use of the expertise of current and ex-players can be of huge benefit to clubs like Boroughmuir.
I’m sure I speak for most ex-players in saying that the club was our life for a great number of years, so I had no hesitation in agreeing to giving something back.
I’m immensely proud to have pulled on that number 2 jersey (even a number 3, 7 and 15 on a few occasions – don’t ask), so if I can help, I will."
Q: Will you be pulling the boots back on for a return to the Muir Reprobates this season?
"There is nothing I would love more than another run out with the reprobates, I think I was about 19 when I underwent one of Colin Gordon’s legendary initiation ceremonies.
However my body is now a wreck, even before a game, so I think the head has to overrule the heart here and politely decline the offer I’m afraid."
Members and supporters can purchase the new Away Jersey via our online shop today.
For Junior Sizes, click here.
For Adult sizes click here.
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