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It's 12 months today since Tom Keir passed away

It's 12 months today since Tom Keir passed away

Malcolm MacDonald12 Apr 2017 - 14:41
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This is a repeat of the article about Tom Keir, an EKRFC colossus, who sadly passed away on 12 April 2016, aged 61.

Tom first arrived at Torrance House, courtesy of Kenny Eggo, in 1974. He acted as touch judge for a year before starting his player career in season 1975/76 in the fourth XV. Little did we know then what an impact he would have on our club.

As a prop forward, Tom was one of rugby’s grafters. He was recognised as our Most Improved Player of the Year (then our POY) in 1979/80.

His speciality would be a one yard dart for a try rather than a long distance run but the club archive contains proof of his aspirations to be one of the “fancy dans”. It notes in 1984 he made a 30 yard break from a lineout, successfully working a scissors with centre Peter Towndrow that led to an EK try!

The table below lists the many roles Tom fulfilled, some of them at the same time.

He was wholly committed to EKRFC, acting as our main sponsor through his company TM Keir Electrical Services for many years and always gave 110%. Tom’s son, Steven, said

My dad loved EKRFC with an incredible passion. It was his dream to see EK rise to the top echelon of Scottish rugby. We came close when in Premier 2, but sadly his dream wasn't realised during his lifetime.”

Some of us can still first remember Tom turning up for training in his purple Ford Escort, the back of the car full of electrical parts and tools.

As his business grew, he and it supported our rugby activities in numerous ways, large and small - doing electrical work in the Sports Club, installing floodlights around the rugby pitches, lending his works van as the “official” transport for many under 18 matches to being the club’s main sponsor for many years.

His Escort changed over time to a range of BMWs and Mercedes. He also did a wide range of electrical jobs for club members over the years, rewiring many homes, and keeping his hand in his electrical work after he retired from his business.

Tom was instrumental in the club appointing its first Rugby Development Officer (Gerry Baines) in May 1998, to grow the flow of youngsters playing rugby at school and progressing on to join EK.

He also supported many overseas “imports” from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, offering employment in his company. Glen Tippett was one of them and is still in Scotland, working for the SRU.

This all contributed to EK’s growth as a club with a range of EK players going on to play at higher levels, including professionally e.g. Colin Stewart and of course, Alasdair Strokosch, EK’s first home produced Scotland player.

Simply put, for many years Tom was Mr EKRFC. Just looking at the roles he held, it’s hard to think of anyone who could have a similar impact today over such a prolonged period – 42 years – across both playing and administrative roles. His contributions, and sheer enthusiasm, impacted on so many players over his long association with EK.

Robert Guthrie, who succeeded Tom as captain in 1989/90, is a prime example.

Tom made me a better player. We both played loose head prop, but because he was Captain I had to learn how to play tight head prop and No 8 in order to get in to the team. We both spurred each other on to be better players and he had a huge and lasting impact on my career”.

Under Tom, and with the assistance of others, EKRFC gained promotion from the National Leagues to Premiership 2. In 1999/2000 we even (very) briefly threatened to gain promotion to Premier 1. We had major cup victories over Premier opposition e.g. Dundee High School and Watsonians.

We had two mighty tussles with Hawick in 1996 and 1998, one of the giants of Scottish rugby, in the Scottish Cup.

Hawick said our three bus loads of supporters who travelled to Mansfield Park in 1996 and raised the roof when we scored two penalties reminded them what grassroots rugby was all about.

At home in 1998 we were not disgraced, going down 15-28 in the snow, crowd = 3000ish!

Our progress brought media attention with various luminaries such as Bill McLaren & John Beattie writing about our progress.

Tom also played a huge part in strengthening the bonds of friendship with our French twin club, Chalons en Champagne.

The Keir family are great friends of the le Blanc family, Tom being club captain and President at the same time as his counterpart and great friend, the late Bernard le Blanc.

The Keir and le Blanc families have holidayed together, attended family weddings etc, all signs of the enduring friendships established through Le Famille de Rugby.

Tom will always be remembered with great affection by Club Olympique Chalonnais.

Tom last visited Chalons en Champagne in 2015. Some of the younger first XV players in the touring party who did not know Tom too well, noted that he was great company, good humoured and diplomatic.

Tom also caught up with some of his longstanding French friends when COC visited EK in March this year.

While Tom was a powerful motivator, he also had a sharp tongue when required. Many of our match reports from the 1980’s and 1990’s note the impact of a few strong words by captain Keir at half time!

His drive and determination stayed with him e.g. in 1993, on the club’s 25th Anniversary Tour to Benidorm, he was hauled before the Tour Judge and fined for being “Mr Grumpy”! Tom? Surely not?!!

Tom remained an enthusiastic vocal supporter of EKRFC, attending home matches regularly and as many away matches as possible, often being generous enough to offer the referee the benefit of his wide and long experience!

He would be the first to admit he was not the best spectator, always preferring to be at the heart of the action.

Tom experienced his share of disappointments with EK, including a number of relegations but we, and he, always bounced back, assisted by his grit and determination.

With our 1st XV suffering relegation this season, his advice to our current players would simply be "to work harder, believe in your skills and capabilities and you will gain promotion again".

Words can’t really do justice to Tom’s contribution so time now to focus on the photographs in the album attached here to remind us of Tom’s many successes and friendships.

While he will be greatly missed, his connections to the club will continue through his family:

  • Steven, his son, remains an active member. Steven, who played for the 1st and 2nd XVs for many years, donned his boots again to play for the 2nd XV on the Saturday after Tom’s funeral as part of the club’s recognition of Tom’s amazing contribution to EK.
  • Tom’s grandson, Declan, plays Mini Rugby at P3/P4 level while Tom’s daughter and Declan’s mum, Hazel, continues to actively support the Mini Rugby section.

Our thoughts are with Tom’s wife, Linda, and family.

Captain: 1982-84 (two years)
1985-89 (four years)
1990-92 (two years)
Total of eight years out of ten
Representative Rugby: Lanarkshire County, Oct 1982 v Kilmarnock and various matches thereafter
Glasgow District 1984/85 and various matches thereafter
Awards: 1979/80 Most Improved Player of the Year (aka our Player of Year at time)
Jan 1998 EKRFC Belhaven Club of the Month
1997/98 EKRFC Club of Year, EK District Council Sports Awards
1999 – made Honorary President for services to EKRFC (only 2nd person to hold such honour)
Coach: 1993/94 Club Coach
1994/95 “ “
1996/97 Forwards Coach
2006/07 “ “
2009/10 “ “
Sponsorship by TM Keir Electrical Services: 1984/85 TM Keir Electrical Services first sponsor a match ball (and many thereafter)
1991/92 to 1997/98 main club sponsor
Vice-President 1995/96
President: 1996/97
1997/98
Director of Rugby: 2001/02
2002/03
2003/04
Secretary: 2005/06
2006/07
Promotions/League finishes: 1985-86 Winners Division 5
1986/87 Winners Division 4
1992/93 Promotion from Division 4
1995/96 Promotion from Division 2
1997/98 Champions National 1, promoted in to Premier 3
1998/99 Promotion from Premier 3
1999/2000 – 5th in Premier 2 (out of 10)
2000/01 finished 6th in Premier 2
2002/03 finished 6th in Premier 3
2003/04 finished 9th in Premier 3 (out of 12)
2004/05 finished 9th in Premier 3
Relegations: 1988/89 (after TMK stepped down as Captain) – first relegation in our 22 year history, with Bob Guthrie captain! Your fault Bob!!
1994/95 relegated from Division 3
2001/02 relegated from Premier 2
2005/06 relegated from Premier 3
Cups: Lanarkshire Cup: 1987; 1988; 1989; 1994; 1996; 1998; 2000
1983 won Murrayfield Cup, Murrayfield
April 2000 won BT Cellnet Shield, Murrayfield Stadium, beating Glasgow Southern (aka Clarkston!)
April 2006 lost final 18-11 to Morgan Academy FP in Bowl Final, Murrayfield
Other positions held: 1981/82 Committee Member & Equipment Convener
2008/09 Rugby Rep on Sports Club Committee
Rugby Development Officer: May 1998 EKRFC appoints first RDO – Gerry Baines

Further reading